Professional Improvement Needs of Administrators of Postsecondary Technical/Vocational Programs. Summary Report. Professional Improvement Assessment Project.

One part of a five-phase study was conducted to develop a database that identifies the professional improvement needs of postsecondary technical/vocational administrators as expressed by individuals responding to a survey and to disseminate the findings of the needs assessment to the coordinators/directors of local institutions for planning faculty development. Information was gathered through a review of literature that identified competencies/tasks performed by individuals employed in the administration of technical/vocational programs. These tasks were then validated by practitioners at four Texas colleges. A needs assessment was conducted by mailing questionnaires to coordinators/directors of faculty development asking for their present and desired levels of development for 133 task/competency statements. Biographical information also was collected. The study found that 54 percent of the 438 administrators who responded felt that their institutions did not provide assistance in developing a plan for professional development. The respondents indicated a need for professional development in all 133 competency/task statements on the questionnaire, with the most pressing needs related to program planning, development, and evaluation. Recommendations were made to develop more extensive professional development programs for postsecondary administrators. (Appendixes include a job inventory survey and the needs assessment questionnaire.) (KC)