Advanced-level education programs are held to rigorous accreditation standards that often require evidence of satisfaction from both program completers and their employers. The purpose of this study was to develop a pragmatic method of collecting this evidence for smaller liberal arts institutions. A convergent parallel mixed methods data…

States, programs, and schools have long focused on the inputs of teacher preparation--the rules for candidates and the preparation programs they attend--because inputs were thought to predict teacher effectiveness, and because they were often the best option available. But in the early 2000s, policymakers began trying to evaluate preparation…

Three techniques for surveying alumni and alumni's employers were utilized over the space of 3 academic years, for the purpose of comparing these methodologies. In the first study, alumni of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville were asked to complete a mailed questionnaire, then were encouraged through a follow-up mailing to grant permission for…

In response to requests by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board for a systematic approach to student outcomes assessment, and in an effort to identify potential areas for improving the quality of community college education, the State Board for Community College Education conducted a vocational outcomes study in 1989. The study…

In 1998, Trident Technical College conducted the 1997 Employer Follow-Up Survey to collect information from employers of 1997 graduates. A total of 373 employers of graduates were identified, of which 243 were contacted and interviewed. Findings indicate that employers rate graduates average or above average in most technical and personal skills.…

The image and effectiveness of an economics and business department at a medium-sized Christian liberal arts college were assessed, in order to assist in departmental planning for the future. Using goals from the extended mission statement of the department, two groups of graduates were surveyed, 421 recent graduates who had graduated between 1…

An employer follow-up study was conducted to gather information from the employers of 1983-84 graduates of St. Louis Community College at Forest Park regarding the preparation and performance of these graduates. A previous survey of the 1983-84 graduates had identified 221 of their employers, who were mailed a questionnaire asking for ratings of…

Reports on an evaluation of the University of North Carolina's Master of Science in Nursing program, which determined and contrasted graduates' and their employers' perceptions of the program; graduates' participation in professional associations; and graduates' further education plans. Both graduates (N=24) and their employers (N=17) rated the…

A follow-up study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to evaluate and obtain externally required information about the dietetic technician program. Surveys were mailed to the 13 students who graduated from the program between spring 1990 and fall 1992 requesting information on their employment status, job title, length of…

In 1989, a study was conducted at Catonsville Community College (CCC) to determine the post-graduation experiences and attitudes of the students who had graduated from the nursing program between June 1987 and December 1988. Of the 113 graduates surveyed, 24 responded to the questionnaire. In addition, 10 employers returned questionnaires…

This study was undertaken to assess employers' attitudes toward the educational preparation of Montgomery College graduates in their employ. Further, it was an effort to gain information from employers regarding what improvements they felt could be made in Montgomery's curriculum to better prepare students for their future occupations. The data…

In fall 1981, the cosmetology program at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) was evaluated as part of a process to create a model for the periodic evaluation of all occupational programs at the school. In addition to collecting information for planning and program improvement, the study sought to assess the achievement of…

As an extension to the development of the Student Accountability Model (SAM), California's vocational student follow-up system, a procedure for obtaining employer feedback information that could assist with occupational program review and evaluation was designed and tested. The design plan included the development of a consortium of community…

A survey of the employers of the 1980 career graduates of Dundalk Community College (DCC) was conducted to evaluate the college's instructional programs and to assess the extent to which DCC assisted graduates in their preparation for career employment. Questionnaires were sent to 73 employers of career and non-career graduates in early 1981.…

A follow-up study was conducted by the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges in summer 1981 to obtain employer evaluations of the performance of occupational curriculum students who were enrolled in college in the 1979-80 school year, but did not return in 1980-81. Drawing from employment information obtained during the first statewide…