Research Brief

OIR Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment RESEARCH BRIEF No. 107-13 October 2013 Summary of Graduate Survey: Class of 2011 – Educational Status This Research Brief presents information about the respondents to the 2010-2011 graduate survey. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) conducts an annual survey of its graduates. For this implementation, graduates were mailed the survey for completion and submission. The survey contains questions concerning graduates' demographic information, educational goals, educational status, employment, and salaries. Graduates are also asked about their opinions regarding instruction they received at NOVA, their instructors, college services and facilities, and the impact NOVA had on their career opportunities and continuing education. Surveys were emailed to 5,795 graduates. 577 graduates responded, resulting in a response rate of 10%. This Research Brief focuses on items related to graduates’ educational status at the time of the survey. Graduates were asked to indicate their educational status at the time they completed the graduate survey. Table 1 provides data on their educational status, with responses provided by degree type. Occupational-technical degrees include A.A.A., A.A.S., and Certificate awards; transfer degrees are comprised of A.A. and A.S. awards. Approximately half of the Occupational-Technical degree graduates (49%) and 85% of Transfer graduates were enrolled in school again after graduating from NOVA. Table 1. Education Status by Degree Type Occupational-Tech Transfer Total Education Status # % # % # % Full-Time Student 54 24.9% 238 66.1% 292 50.6% Part-Time Student 53 24.4% 68 18.9% 121 21.0% Not Student/No Answer 110 50.7% 54 15.0% 164 28.4% Total 217 100.0% 360 100.0% 577 100.0% NOVA’s graduate survey also includes questions mandated by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Several items related to graduates’ educational status. Graduates were asked if they were pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at the time of the survey. Their responses are provided in Table 2. Three-quarters of survey respondents (75%) indicated that they would be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. Table 2. Will You Pursue a Bachelor's Degree? Currently Pursuing Bachelor's Degree # % Yes, Full-Time 281 51.6% Yes, Part-Time 95 17.4% Yes, Completed Bachelor’s 27 5.0% Yes, Stopped Before Graduation 7 1.3% No 135 24.8% Total 545 100.0% If graduates indicated they were pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, they were also asked if the Bachelor’s degree was related to their NOVA degree and if their studies at NOVA had prepared them academically for pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. Responses to both questions are shown in Table 3. Approximately 85% of respondents pursuing a Bachelor’s degree indicated that their degree program was in some way related to their NOVA degree. Almost 90% of respondents pursuing a Bachelor’s degree felt academically prepared for a Bachelor’s degree. Table 3. NOVA Preparation for Bachelor’s Program Is Your Bachelor's Degree Program Did NOVA Prepare You NOVA Preparation for Related to NOVA Degree? Academically for Bachelor’s? Bachelor’s Program # % # % Very Much 226 57.5% 208 53.3% Somewhat 107 27.2% 140 35.9% Very Little 40 10.2% 32 8.2% Not at All 20 5.1% 10 2.6% Total 393 100.0% 390 100.0% Those graduates who were enrolled at the time of the survey were asked to provide additional information on their education status. Information regarding which institution the graduate was attending at the time of the survey was provided by 399 respondents. Table 4 details the responses regarding which institutions graduates were attending. Table 4. Colleges and Universities Attended by Respondents State # State # Virginia Goucher College 1 George Mason University 236 Stevenson University (f. Villa Julie Coll.) 1 NOVA 26 MD Total 8 2.0% James Madison University 16 DC Virginia Commonwealth University 13 George Washington University 3 University of Virginia 11 American University 2 Virginia Tech 9 Catholic University of America 1 Mary Washington University 6 Georgetown University 1 Old Dominion University 5 DC Total 7 1.8% Marymount University 3 Other States 28 6.8% Christopher Newport University 2 Online/Multi-State Liberty University 2 Strayer University 5 Radford University 2 Ashford University 3 College of William and Mary 1 Chamberlain College of Nursing 3 Ferrum College 1 American Public University System 1 Hampton University 1 Anthem University 1 Longwood University 1 Art Institute of Washington 1 Lord Fairfax Community College 1 Ashworth University 1 Randolph-Macon College 1 Devry University 1 VA Total 337 84.5% Gibbs College 1 Maryland Grantham University 1 University of Maryland College Park 5 Stratford University 1 Cantonsville Community College 1 Online/Multi-State Total 19 4.8% Total Responses =399 2 .

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