Community Needs Assessment Study

Community Needs Assessment Study

Summer/Fall 2001Department of Planning and

Research

Last Community Survey

CPCC conducted the Citizen’s Survey in 1994 as part of the Strategic Master Plan

This survey was conducted prior to the multi-campus expansion

It was time to do another

Procedures

In the Summer of 2001• An HTML survey was developed• Invitational ads were placed in newspapers,

on the CPCC homepage and on the Fall 2001 schedule

• 198 individuals/businesses completed on-line surveys

Procedures

The same survey was created as a scannable pencil-paper survey and approximately 350 copies were distributed by the campus Deans

• They were distributed to civic groups, participants at community events and a few students in CCE classes

• Several Deans participated heavily, others participated little or not at all

• Surveys were returned by 179 individuals/businesses

Procedures

Planning and Research offered to do two focus groups per campus• To date, two were done at South, one was

done at West and one was done with potential employers at the new Northeast Campus.

• Additional focus groups are planned for West and Northeast

Demographics of Respondents in 2001 (N=377) and 1994 (N=734) Gender 2001 1994• male 35.9% 65% • female 64.1% 35%

Age 2001 1994• 25 or less 19.1% (<26) <.01%• 26-40 37.4% (25-44) 49%• 41-50 25.1% (45>) 50%• over 50 17.3%

Demographics, continued

Ethnicity 2001 1994• White 75.4% 88% • African American 17.7% -• Other minority 6.9% 12%

Employment Status 20011994• Unemployed 23.5% 26%

• retired - 20%• Employed 76.4% 74%

• full-time 63.5% -• part-time 12.9% -

Demographics, continued

Income Level (question not asked in 1994)• 16.8% earned less than $19,999 annually• 27.8% earned $20,000 - $39,999• 19.4% earned $40,000 - $59,999• 21.4% earned $60,000 - $99,999• 14.6% earned $100,000 or more

Demographics, continued

Areas of Employment of Survey Participants• 20.4% business 6.7% banking/finance• 8.8% education 4.0% transportation• 8.8% technology 4.0% engineering • 7.6% service 3.4% computer• 7.3% health 1.5% arts

• 27.4% other/not listed

Relationship of Participants to College

Participants could indicate more than one response. Participants by percent were:• 42.4% community residents

/potential students• 36.1% current students• 25.5% former students• 9.3% employers

Number of Potential Students by Household

Participants were asked “how many in your household might be interested in attending the College?”

• 77.1% indicated 1-2 individuals• 15.6% indicated “none”• 5.1% indicated 3-4 individuals• 2.2% indicated more than 4 individuals

What Would Be Your Goal in Attending CPCC

Participants could select more than one answer:

51.2% Personal interest/enrichment 35.3% Take continuing education courses 33.4% Prepare for different job 33.4% Update skills for current job 19.9% Obtain 2-yr degree and enter workforce 19.4% Obtain diploma/certificate 18.8% Obtain 2-yr degree and transfer

Goal, continued

15.4% Take a few courses and transfer 15.1% Obtain short-term training (1 sem. or less) 8.8% Improve reading, writing and math skills 6.1% Obtain high school diploma or GED 3.4% Prepare for first job 1.6% Take ESL courses

Participants could select more than one answer.

Top Goals in Attending Based on Age

Age Group <26 26-40 41-50 >50 Obtain degree &

enter workforce 41.9% 18.2% 14.1% 6.3% Obtain degree &

transfer 45.9% 20.4% 7.6% 1.6% Take courses &

transfer 39.2% 10.9% 6.5% 6.3% Prepare for diff. job 10.8% 36.5% 48.9% 31.7% Update skills 17.6% 38.0% 41.3% 31.7% Personal enrichment 39.2% 49.6% 55.4% 66.7% Take ConEd classes 18.9% 32.1% 44.6% 46.0%

Campus Preference for Attending Classes

Campus of Choice 2001 1994• Central 47.2% 45%• South 32.4% 36%• College Without Walls 25.2%• West Campus 23.1%• North Campus 19.1% 11%• High School Location 18.8% 52%• Southwest 16.7%• Northeast 10.1%• My workplace 10.1%• City View Center 5.6%

Participants could select more than one answer.

Reason for Campus Selection

Close to home 78.0% Close to work 43.8% Easy drive to and from 45.6% Close to daycare or relatives 4.0%

Participants could select more than one answer.

Reasons Based on Age

Age Group <26 26-40 41-50>50

Close to home 79.7% 75.9% 81.5% 79.4%

Close to work 41.9% 48.9% 50.0% 25.4% Easy drive to and from 66.2% 40.9% 35.9%

49.2% Close to daycare or

relatives 2.7% 7.3% 1.1%3.2%

Convenient Time to Take Classes

Compare 2001 1994• evenings 72.7% 55%• on weekends 40.8% 28%• mornings 32.4% 36%• afternoons 22.8% 17%

Participants could select more than one answer.

Time Based on Age

Age Group <26 26-40 41-50>50

Mornings 68.9% 21.2% 13.0% 41.3%

Afternoons 47.3% 12.4% 13.0% 31.7% Evenings 45.9% 78.8% 92.4%

65.1% Weekends 27.0% 48.2% 37.5%

36.5%

Time Based on Employment Status

Employed EmployedUnemployed part-time full-time

Mornings 54.1% 72.3% 15.2% Afternoons 41.2% 38.3% 13.0% Evenings 51.8% 44.7% 87.85 Weekends 29.4% 19.1% 50.9%

Are any of the following critical to the decision to attend?

The following % answered “yes”

46.8% Tuition waivers 37.1% Federal financial aid 35.9% Scholarships

Participants could select more than one answer.

Critical issues in making the decision to attend - based on age

Age Group <26 26-40 41-50 >50

Percent answering “yes”

Scholarships 48.4% 45.9% 29.7% 6.7%

Tuition Waivers 50.9% 53.9% 43.8% 34.5%

Federal Financial Aid Program 42.4% 47.8% 37.5% 6.4%

Critical issues in making the decision to attend - based on income level

Income Level <20K 20-39K 40-59K 60-99K >99K

Percent answering “yes”

Scholarships 57.1% 44.7% 46.0% 24.6% 7.1%

Tuition Waivers 66.0% 51.9% 58.2% 35.5% 20.9%

Federal Financial Aid Programs 59.1% 48.1% 42.0% 20.6% 9.3%

Greatest Barriers to Attending...

Available personal time 49.3% Work Schedule 46.9% Financial Resources 30.2% Time commitment 18.0% Childcare 10.3% My age 5.8% Understanding registration process 5.0% My formal education 5.0% Transportation 4.5% My disability 1.3% Difficulty reading the schedule .8%

Participants could select more than one answer.

Top Barriers by Age

Age Group <26 26-40 41-50 >50

Work Schedule 41.9% 51.8% 60.9% 28.6% Available Time 36.5% 55.5% 62.0% 34.9% Financial

Resources 28.4% 40.1% 28.3% 15.9% Time

Commitment 16.2% 16.8% 20.7% 20.6% Transportation 12.2% 1.5% 5.4% 1.6% Childcare 8.1% 18.2% 6.5% 1.6%

Top Barriers by Employment Status

Employed EmployedUnemployed part-time full-time

Work Schedule 18.8% 44.7% 60.4% Available Time 28.2% 40.4% 59.6% Financial Resources 27.1% 31.9% 30.9% Time Commitment 7.1% 12.8% 23.9% Childcare 10.6% 10.6% 10.4%

Top Barriers by Income Level

Income Level <20K 20-39K 40-59K 60-99K >99K

Available Time 32.1% 47.3% 52.3% 63.9% 51.0% Work Schedule 37.5% 50.5% 50.8% 50.0% 46.9% Financial

Resources 44.6% 39.8% 40.0% 20.8% 4.1% Time

Commitment 8.9% 18.3% 18.5% 19.4% 20.4%

Services Considered Important in Making the Decision to Attend

94.6% parking 87.9% library 87.7% bookstore 75.1% academic advising 70.5% career services and job placement 61.6% financial aid 60.0% tutoring services 50.3% food services 48.8% lifetime email address 36.0% student activities and campus life 29.0% bus transportation

Participants could select more than one answer.

Top Services Considered Importantby Age Group

Age Group <26 26-40 41-50 >50 Academic Advising 83.3% 70.7% 74.4% 6.0% Career Services 74.0% 70.7% 68.5% 52.5% Tutoring 75.3% 64.2% 52.8% 46.6% Student Activities 66.2% 38.5% 19.8% 18.3% Library90.5% 86.7% 90.8% 85.2% Bookstore 94.6% 86.6% 87.8% 83.9% Food Services 74.3% 47.8% 41.1% 43.5% Financial Aid 64.9% 72.1% 63.2% 35.5% Parking 94.6% 92.6% 95.5% 98.4% Transportation 41.9% 31.3% 23.0% 18.0% Lifetime Email56.2% 45.9% 46.1% 53.2%

Top Services Considered Importantby Employment Status

Employed EmployedUnemployed part-time full-time

Academic Advising 83.5% 78.7% 72.7% Career Services79.3% 78.3% 66.8% Tutoring 63.7% 72.7% 58.2% Student Activities 38.3% 60.9% 29.8% Library 92.4% 89.1% 86.8% Bookstore 92.7% 88.9% 86.4% Food Services 51.2% 70.2% 46.5% Financial Aid 67.1% 68.1% 60.2% Parking 91.6% 95.7% 95.6% Transportation 32.9% 44.7% 24.8% Lifetime Email 50.6% 50.0% 48.7%

Top Services Considered Importantby Income Level

Income Level <20K 20-39K 40-59K 60-99K >99K Academic Advising 89.1% 85.6% 80.0% 66.2% 52.1% Career Services 89.1% 81.3% 72.3% 63.9% 40.8% Tutoring 77.4% 70.0% 69.8% 47.1% 34.7% Student Activities 56.4% 42.2% 30.8% 31.9% 12.2% Library98.2% 91.2% 92.3% 81.9% 81.2% Bookstore 94.5% 93.4% 84.4% 86.1% 79.2% Food Services 66.1% 52.2% 55.4% 40.3% 39.6% Financial Aid 80.4% 80.4% 76.6% 36.6% 25.0% Parking 94.6% 92.4% 98.4% 94.4% 93.7% Transportation 50% 33.0% 28.1% 19.7% 14.6% Lifetime Email63% 56.5% 53.8% 43.1% 33.3%

Preferred Time and Method of Using These Services

Method• 61.5% via Internet/web page• 34.6% in person• 3.8% via mail

Time• 63% evening• 26.6% daytime• 10.4% weekends

The Best Way to Receive Information about CPCC

54.6% CPCC catalog/schedule 42.2% newspaper 34.5% Internet 29.4% word-of-mouth 17.0% television or cable channel 9.3% radio 5.8% workplace or company newsletter 3.2% billboards

Participants could select more than one answer.

Aspects of our Mission:What They Didn’t Know

College offers pre-college programs (ESL, basic skills, adult HS, etc.) 43.8%

College offers college transfer programs 42.6% College has supportive student environment 40.7% College contributes to economy of community 37.8% College strengthens social life of community 37.0% College offers technical career programs 36.3% Quality of faculty 32.3% College has available students services 28.3% College meets individual student needs 26.7%

Percent responding“I don’t know”

What They Didn’t Know, continued

College contributes to cultural life of community 26.5% Provides high quality programs and services 19.7% College has variety of methods

(in-class, distance ed., etc.) 18.3% College is financially affordable 13.6% Variety of class times11.8% Commitment to lifelong learning 11.5% College offers a variety of programs 8.6% College has convenient locations, accessible

to work and home 4.4%

Percent responding“I don’t know”

Aspects of Our Mission -Mean Scores (How We’re Doing)

Commitment to lifelong learning 3.23 College offers a variety of programs 3.17 College has convenient locations, accessible

to work and home 3.14 College offers technical career programs 3.12 College has variety of methods

(in-class, distance education, etc.) 3.10 College is financially affordable 3.07 College offers pre-college programs

(ESL, basic skills, adult HS, etc.) 3.06 Provides high quality programs and services 3.05

Scale 1-4 -poor, fair, good, excellent

Mean Score

How We’re Doing, continued

College offers college transfer programs 3.00 Quality of faculty 3.00 College contributes to economy of community 2.94 College meets individual student needs 2.90 Variety of class times2.89 College has available students services 2.86 College contributes to cultural life of community 2.85 College strengthens social life of community 2.83 College has supportive student environment 2.80

Scale 1-4 - poor, fair, good, excellent

Mean Score

Participants Were Asked….

“Were you aware that a student who completes their first two years of college coursework at CPCC and is accepted at any of the UNC four-year institutions, will enter as a junior and all course work will transfer?”

53.6% indicated that they were aware of our articulation agreement

Participants Were Asked….

“Are you aware that high school students in CMS are allowed to earn college credit while attending CPCC during their junior and senior years?”

52.9% were aware of our college-experience programs

Perceptions of CPCC

Overall perception of CPCC• 79.4% positive or very positive• 9.5% neutral or no opinion• 3.3% poor

Would you recommend CPCC to a friend or family member?• 99.2% said “yes” (82% without reservation

and 17.2% with some reservation)

What can CPCC do to attract students to the College?

More marketing and visibility• Advertisements• Career fairs• More information on internet• Radio, cable TV or direct mail• Free workshops• Work with high schools• Special programs in businesses• Annual event highlighting opportunities

…to attract students, continued

More variety of courses• more routes to get the GED• more courses at area campuses and centers• adult enrichment programs• offer Information Technology courses like ECPI instead

of Information Systems• more flexible scheduling (eve. and weekend)• more technical/vocational skills courses• specific courses (aviation, photography, writing, history)

…to attract students, continued

Student Services Issues• More financial aid services• Appeal to special interest groups

• single-parents with older kids to encourage them to return to school

• Older adults to overcome fears of learning• Reliable information on tutors and

how to contact them

What programs would you be interested in studying?

1. Technology Courses• Digital photography• Computer applications• Web design/development courses• Desk top publishing• Computer software• IT certification in ConEd• E-commerce• Update your skills in Microsoft• Programming

…. Programs, continued

2. Culinary and Health• hospitality education through CWW• cooking and the use of herbs • alternative medicine and medical terminology • healthcare, respiratory care and nursing

3. Arts• Dance• Yoga• Art (for credit and non-credit)• Music• Creative writing

... Programs, continued

4. Office related• human resources• starting your own business• business administration• purchasing certification• marketing• insurance• public relations• financial investing and financial counseling• grant writing

... Programs, continued

5. Miscellaneous• Spanish and other languages• Aviation, professional pilots certification• Auto mechanics, welding, pluming• Child development• Career services and career preparation• Classes for fun (hobbies)

As a community college, what does CPCC do well?

Great access: place, courses and time Availability to those who wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity Variety of programs Basics in all areas Prepares students to fill the need in the community Provides opportunities to people at different times in their lives,

today’s career patterns, from Kid’s College to seniors Communicates with and touches the community Provides continuing education Reasonable price Serves the community

For a Copy of this Presentation

Go to:

http://inside.cpcc.cc.nc.us/planning/default.htm

click on “Studies and Reports”