Criteria used by non-traditional students in selecting high-technology training programs

In the third Phase of this Three-Phase study 348 students on seven campuses of the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) System were surveyed to determine the importance they placed on encouraging and discouraging factors when selecting training programs. A 32 percent response produced sufficient data to analyze differences between older and younger students enrolled in High- and Low-Technology programs.; In the first Phase 61 training programs were grouped into three technology levels by a panel of experts employing the Delphi technique. Examples of the programs and ratings were: High-Technology--Semiconductor Manufacturing; Laser Electro-Optics; and, Integrated Digital Imaging. Medium-Technology--Telecommunications; Radiation Protection; and, Machine Shop Operations. Low-Technology--Occupational Safety & Health; Nurse Assistants; and Diesel Mechanics. Categorization of the programs was used to stratify students so that comparisons could be made.; In Phase II of the study 89 students from the TSTC Marshall Campus were surveyed to identify a list of encouraging and discouraging factors they considered when enrolling in training programs. This survey produced 177 and 91 statements subsequently synthesized into 22 encouraging, and 22 discouraging factors respectively. These factors were incorporated into a 10-point Likert type rating scale used to rank the importance of each factor by four Age Groups, (18-24), (25-34), (35-44), and (45+), and three Technology Categories, High, Medium, and Low.; From an analysis of the data obtained, factors considered most important to Non-Traditional students were identified and compared to those factors used by their younger counterparts. The top five encouraging factors important to the Non-Traditional students were: Keeping abreast of Technology; the anticipated work environment; the schools' reputation; being competitive in the job marked; and, working with computers. For the younger students the top factors were: The anticipated work environment; high employment demand field; being competitive in the job market; keeping abreast of technology; the school's reputation; and, working with computers.; Statistically significant differences were discovered in what factors were most important between the younger and older student groups and the degree of importance these groups placed on the same factors. There were factors discovered to be of equal importance to both groups.