Employer Follow-Up Study: North Carolina Community College System.

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 follow-up of former students, questionnaires were sent to 6,100 supervisors of former community college students requesting an evaluation of their training and of selected attitudinal characteristics. Study findings, based on responses from 59% of the supervisors, included the following: (1) the technical knowledge, work attitude, and work quality of employees were rated between good and very good, with work attitude and quality receiving higher ratings; (2) skilled training of employees was evaluated as between good and very good; (3) employers rated employees' on-the-job performance highly with work attendance and willingness to learn receiving the highest marks; (4) employers felt that former students were better prepared than employees who had not received occupational training, and 60% indicated that the training had contributed to the employee's ability or advancement; and (5) more than 60% of the employers hired the former students on the basis of direct application. The bulk of the report is composed of data tables breaking down findings for graduates, early leavers, and dropouts. The questionnaire is also included. (HB)