Goal 1/A: DCCCD students will obtain the knowledge, skills, and services needed to succeed in jobs and careers that meet the area workforce needs.

Goal 1/B: DCCCD students will obtain the freshman and sophomore level knowledge, skills, and services needed to succeed in earning a baccalaureate degree.
 
The following District-wide measures are reported:

-- Employer satisfaction with student preparation for the workplace

Preparation for Employment

Employer Perceptions

Survey responses from 100 employers who post openings through the DCCCD Job Bank to hire current and former students revealed the following.

• Approximately 90% indicated that the "DCCCD is successfully preparing students for the workplace."
• Over three-fourths believed the associate degree or certificate increases an employee’s chance for advancement in their organization.
• From a list of attributes, employers rated attendance/dependability, listening skills and ability to work with others as "most important" and were also "most satisfied" with student preparation in these areas.

Survey responses from 382 graduates and completers of technical/occupational programs one year after graduation revealed these findings.

• Almost 90% are employed (80% full-time, 9% part-time) and of those, 68.5% are working in a position related to their field of study. Of those who are not, many retained the job they had while in school and did not seek other employment.
• Respondents indicated above average satisfaction with their technical training (72% satisfied or very satisfied) as well as overall DCCCD education (87% satisfied or very satisfied).

Degrees and Certificates Awarded

After a peak in 1994-95, the number of degrees awarded declined and has since been relatively flat. In contrast, the number of certificates awarded has fluctuated, but experienced an increase each year compared to 1993-94.

Several programs have related licensure or certification exams. Of the 418 DCCCD current/former students who took such exams in 1996-97, 91% received a passing score.
 

Each fall, more than 8,500 students who were enrolled at a DCCCD college during the prior year, transfer to a 4-year institution. Almost half of these students transfer to the University of North Texas or University of Texas - Dallas or Arlington - locations.

The number of DCCCD transfer students has declined in recent years. For example, 5% fewer students transferred in fall 1997 than fall 1996. In part, the decline can be attributed to the cumulative effect of the decrease in DCCCD credit students from 1993 through 1997. However, preliminary research indicates that a larger percentage of students may be choosing to join the workforce after leaving the DCCCD than in earlier years.
 

Student Performance After Transfer

Available data indicate that DCCCD students are academically successful after transfer and remain enrolled at the 4-year institution. The following table compares DCCCD student performance after transfer relative to other community college transfers and native university students (those who began their college career at the university).
 

	Student Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) at 4-Year University
Transfer Institution	DCCCD Students	Other Community College Students	Native University Students
University of North Texas	2.76	2.78	2.76
Texas A & M - Commerce	2.98	2.90	n.a.
University of Texas - Arlington	2.62	2.68	2.78
Texas A & M - College Station	2.60	2.53	2.60

n.a. = Native student g.p.a was not included in the university report.

In general, DCCCD students remain enrolled after transfer. The Community College Transfer Rate Study performed by the Coordinating Board found 87% of former DCCCD students were enrolled at a university for at least two semesters. The state average for the same cohort was 85.5%.

Notes: Transfer numbers differ from previous reports due to the correction of a programming error, which counted some students twice.

Mentioned transfer universities provided all transfer performance data. Thus, data definitions and time periods reflected in comparisons may differ.

DCCCD student g.p.a is weighted average derived from individual DCCCD college g.p.a.

 Prepared by District Office of Research, May 1999

1998-99 Board Indicator Reports