Survey of DCCCD Graduates/Completers
2000 - 2001 Graduates and Certificate Completers, One Year Later

The Sample

A total of 2,254 surveys were mailed to all graduates and certificate completers of DCCCD colleges on July 8, 2002. In prior surveys, only graudates/completers of technical programs were contacted. Thus, current findings may not be comparable to earlier surveys. A total of 421 usable surveys were returned, yielding a response rate of 18.7%. See appendix one for a copy of the survey (in pdf format). Participants were asked to identify the college from which they received their degree or certificate. The following tables show how the sample breaks down by college and degree/certificate.
 

Attainment:
Degree	287 (75%)
Certificate	49 (13%)
Both	46 (12%)

Graduated from:		Graduated from:
Brookhaven	63	36
Cedar Valley	32	13
Eastfield	90	30
El Centro	55	21
Mountain View	35	34
North Lake	43	26
Richland	107	55

Note: some individuals graduated from more than one college.

Major areas of study:

When asked about their major field of study (or certification field), most individuals listed their associates degree (in sciences or arts), while relatively few identified specific disciplines. The most commonly listed majors related to the business or computer disciplines. The following unique majors were named:
 

Accounting Accounting assistant Accounting clerk Administrative assistant Air conditioning and heating Allied health Applied arts Applied sciences Art Automotive Bilingual education Biology Building property management Business (administration) Business computer programming Business software development CADD Cardiac ultrasound Chemical dependency Child development CISCO network Computer electronics Computer information technology Computer support specialist Criminal justice Diagnostic medical sonography Early childhood education Education Educational personnel Electronic computer technology Electronic telecommunications Electronics Electronics technology EMT certification Engine tech Engineering electronics tech. Executive assistant Fashion design Fashion marketing Fashion merchandising Floral design certificate Greenhouse florist Greenhouse operations Health information management Health information technology HIM Horticulture Hospitality management Information technology

Integrated circuit design Interior design International business and trade Internet communications Internet publishing Interpreting Invasive cardiovascular technology LAN certification Landscape management Legal assistant Liberal arts Liberal sciences LVN Management Marketing Medical transcription Meeting and planning Mid-management Midrange computer center spec. Multimedia authoring Multimedia web design Multimedia technology Network administration Networking NSG Nursing Office technology Paralegal studies Pattern and apparel design PC support Psychology Radiology Real estate - property management RFTU RN Science Semiconductor Social work Substance abuse counseling Surgical technology Telecommunications Travel Ultrasound Urban education Veterinary assistant Veterinary technology Visual communications Vocational nursing Word processing/typist

Transfer plans since graduating from the DCCCD:

No such plans	58 (14%)
No but plan to ...
... in Fall 2002	47 (11%)
... in Spring 2003	22 (5%)
... at a later date	71 (17%)
Yes, enrolled at a ...
public university	152 (36%)
a private university	33 (8%)
a DCCCD college	32 (8%)
some other school	4 (1%)

Note: some individuals have enrolled in more than one class of institution.

Those who have enrolled in a college or university since graduation did so:
 

Spring 2000	12 (6%)
Summer 2000	5 (2%)
Fall 2000	37 (18%)
Spring 2001	14 (7%)
Summer 2001	10 (5%)
Fall 2001	77 (36%)
Spring 2002	17 (8%)
Summer 2002	4 (2%)
Fall 2002	7 (3%)
Spring (no year specified)	5 (2%)
Summer (no year specified)	3 (1%)
Fall (no year specified)	13 (6%)
2000 (no semester specified)	4 (2%)
2001 (no semester specified)	2 (1%)
2002 (no semester specified)	0 (0%)

Colleges and universities in which graduates/completers enrolled:

Most respondents provided the name of the institution in which they enrolled. Some have enrolled in two colleges since completing studies at the DCCCD. The following is a breakdown of colleges and universities attended by respondents:
 

University of Texas at Dallas	27
University of North Texas	23
University of Texas at Arlington	20
Amberton University	8
Southern Methodist University	6
Texas A&M University	6
Texas A&M University at Commerce	5
Dallas Baptist University	4
Northwood University	4
Paul Quinn College	2
Austin Community College	2
Midwestern State University	2
University of Phoenix	2
Devry Institute of Technology	1
Texas Women's University	1
Texas Wesleyan University	1
TWU (unspecified)	1
Lamar University	1
Stephen F. Austin University	1
Texas Christian University	1
University of Tennessee at Marrin	1
University of Texas at San Antonio	1
California State University at Bakersfield	1
Texas A&M University at Corpus Cristi	1
Western Michigan University	1
Baylor University	1
Wayland Baptist University	1
St. Francis University at Joliet	1
Tarrant County Community College	1
Delmar Community College	1
Liberty University	1
Baylor College of Dentistry	1
LaTourneau University	1
University of Nebraska	1
University of Texas at Brownsville	1

Graduates indicated a remarkable level of satisfaction with the skills they acquired while attending the DCCCD. Average scores (where 1 reflects "very dissatisfied" and 5 reflects "very satisfied"):
 

Reading	4.32
Writing	4.31
Math	4.07
Problem solving	4.14
Computer	4.11
Overall	4.41

Skills not addressed adequately:

Respondents were given the opportunity to list any skills not adequately addressed in their programs. These verbatim comments are provided in Appendix 2. Contact Edward Hummingbird for the text file containing these comments.

Examples of comments (provided verbatim):

• Computer software programs. This should be part of the curriculum.
• There is not enough emphasis on writing (i.e., essays, reports, etc).
• Great technical knowledge, yet wish I had more "out in the field" experience (i.e., actually watching landscape) to apply new skills, installed from conception to completion. Even in my internship, I got very little "hands on."
• I think we should have looked at abnormal things such as x-rays showing broken legs or enlarged kidneys and such instead of seeing 90% only normal stuff. That way we know what to look for when we start working in a clinic or animal hospital.

Present status:
Employed full-time - 275 (66%)
Employed part-time - 69 (17%)
Unemployed and seeking employment - 45 (11%)
Unemployed and not seeking employment - 26 (6%)
Self-employed - 2 (0%)

Employment relatedness to degree/certificate:
Job closely related to degree/certificate - 192 (49%)
Job not related (or remotely related) - 198 (51%)
… did not change jobs - 84 (22%)
… better paying job in another field - 13 (3%)
… did not seek job in related field - 24 (6%)
… could not find job in related field - 30 (8%)
… am not yet sufficiently qualified - 47 (12%)
 

Individuals were asked to share their thoughts regarding "your experience as a DCCCD student or employment/additional education as it relates to your DCCCD educational preparation." Many respondents provided very candid and often detailed responses. Most responses were positive and focused on the overall educational experience, faculty and instruction, and occupational outcomes. Almost all negative comments focused on instruction/pedagogy. A complete listing of comments is provided in appendix three, which is available by contacting Edward Hummingbird. The following are examples of responses (provided verbatim):

• NLC is a great place to work AND go to school. There are always a few bad apples, but the majority of the staff & faculty really care about the students. It makes a HUGE difference!
• I believe that intl. classes in Management and Marketing should be made mandatory for all Business degrees. I just saw an American company go bankrupt due to no knowledge of how to access a foreign market.
• I attended Eastfield for 1 semester - Fall 1995. I took 3 classes - DC, digital logic, and elementary algebra. I got an employment opportunity in 1996 to place fiberoptic in Richardson for SBC. That project extended in 1996 and I tested with GTE, these classes were exactly the classes I needed to pass GTE's test, I have been employed with GTE/Verizon ever since. I returned to Eastfield in the Fall of 1997 and completed my degree in 2001. Attending just 1 semester has allowed me to earn $65,000 plus each and every year since 1998. Every single teacher I had at Eastfield in the telecomm division was well informed and extremely qualified to teach their subjects. I would especially like to thank Chuck Dale who always made time to help me with any issue I had with my education. I recommend his program to anyone I meet who is interested in telecomm/electronics.
• Within the next 3 months, I plan to be working in my degree field. I feel I was well prepared for the work force because of Cedar Valley College.
• Administrative office is very slow to process paperwork and important documents.

Internal Reports & Summaries