Community Needs
Assessment Study
Summer/Fall 2001
Department 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
• male
• female
Age
• 25 or less
• 26-40
• 41-50
• over 50
2001
35.9%
64.1%
1994
65%
35%
2001
19.1%
37.4%
25.1%
17.3%
1994
<.01%
49%
50%
(<26)
(25-44)
(45>)
Demographics, continued


Ethnicity
• White
• African American
• Other minority
Employment Status
• Unemployed
• retired
• Employed
• full-time
• part-time
2001
75.4%
17.7%
6.9%
2001
23.5%
76.4%
63.5%
12.9%
1994
88%
12%
1994
26%
20%
74%
-
Demographics, continued

Income Level (question not asked in
1994)
•
•
•
•
•
16.8%
27.8%
19.4%
21.4%
14.6%
earned
earned
earned
earned
earned
less than
$20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $100,000
$19,999 annually
$39,999
$59,999
$99,999
or more
Demographics, continued

Areas of Employment of Survey
Participants
•
•
•
•
•
20.4% business
8.8% education
8.8% technology
7.6% service
7.3% health
• 27.4% other/not listed
6.7%
4.0%
4.0%
3.4%
1.5%
banking/finance
transportation
engineering
computer
arts
Relationship of
Participants to College

Participants could indicate more than
one response. Participants by percent
were:
• 42.4%
• 36.1%
• 25.5%
• 9.3%
community residents
/potential students
current students
former students
employers
Number of Potential
Students by Household

Participants were asked “how many
in your household might be
interested in attending the College?”
•
•
•
•
77.1%
15.6%
5.1%
2.2%
indicated
indicated
indicated
indicated
1-2 individuals
“none”
3-4 individuals
more than 4 individuals
What Would Be Your
Goal in Attending CPCC








Participants could select more than one answer:
51.2%
35.3%
33.4%
33.4%
19.9%
19.4%
18.8%
Personal interest/enrichment
Take continuing education courses
Prepare for different job
Update skills for current job
Obtain 2-yr degree and enter workforce
Obtain diploma/certificate
Obtain 2-yr degree and transfer
Goal, continued






15.4%
15.1%
8.8%
6.1%
3.4%
1.6%
Take a few courses and transfer
Obtain short-term training (1 sem. or less)
Improve reading, writing and math skills
Obtain high school diploma or GED
Prepare for first job
Take ESL courses
Participants could select more than one answer.
Top Goals in Attending
Based on Age







Age Group
Obtain degree &
enter workforce
Obtain degree &
<26
26-40
41-50
>50
41.9%
18.2%
14.1%
6.3%
transfer
Take courses &
transfer
Prepare for diff. job
Update skills
Personal enrichment
Take ConEd classes
45.9%
20.4%
7.6%
1.6%
39.2%
10.8%
17.6%
39.2%
18.9%
10.9%
36.5%
38.0%
49.6%
32.1%
6.5%
48.9%
41.3%
55.4%
44.6%
6.3%
31.7%
31.7%
66.7%
46.0%
Campus Preference for
Attending Classes
Campus of Choice
2001
1994
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
47.2%
32.4%
25.2%
23.1%
19.1%
18.8%
16.7%
10.1%
10.1%
5.6%
45%
36%
Central
South
College Without Walls
West Campus
North Campus
High School Location
Southwest
Northeast
My workplace
City View Center
Participants could select more than one answer.
11%
52%
Reason for Campus
Selection




Close to home
Close to work
Easy drive to and from
Close to daycare or relatives
Participants could select more than one answer.
78.0%
43.8%
45.6%
4.0%
Reasons Based on Age
Age Group




Close to home
Close to work
Easy drive to and from
Close to daycare or
relatives
<26
26-40
41-50
>50
79.7% 75.9%
41.9% 48.9%
66.2% 40.9%
81.5%
50.0%
35.9%
79.4%
25.4%
49.2%
2.7%
1.1%
7.3%
3.2%
Convenient Time to
Take Classes

Compare
•
•
•
•
evenings
on weekends
mornings
afternoons
2001
1994
72.7%
40.8%
32.4%
22.8%
55%
28%
36%
17%
Participants could select more than one answer.
Time Based on Age
Age Group




Mornings
Afternoons
Evenings
Weekends
<26
26-40
41-50
>50
68.9%
47.3%
45.9%
27.0%
21.2%
12.4%
78.8%
48.2%
13.0%
13.0%
92.4%
37.5%
41.3%
31.7%
65.1%
36.5%
Time Based on
Employment Status




Mornings
Afternoons
Evenings
Weekends
Employed
Employed
Unemployed
part-time
full-time
54.1%
41.2%
51.8%
29.4%
72.3%
38.3%
44.7%
19.1%
15.2%
13.0%
87.85
50.9%
Are any of the following critical to the
decision to attend?




The following % answered “yes”
46.8%
37.1%
35.9%
Tuition waivers
Federal financial aid
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
Work Schedule
Financial Resources
Time commitment
Childcare
My age
Understanding registration process
My formal education
Transportation
My disability
Difficulty reading the schedule
Participants could select more than one answer.
49.3%
46.9%
30.2%
18.0%
10.3%
5.8%
5.0%
5.0%
4.5%
1.3%
.8%
Top Barriers by Age
Age Group






Work Schedule
Available Time
Financial
Resources
Time
Commitment
Transportation
Childcare
<26
26-40
41-50
>50
41.9%
36.5%
51.8%
55.5%
60.9%
62.0%
28.6%
34.9%
28.4%
40.1%
28.3%
15.9%
16.2%
12.2%
8.1%
16.8%
1.5%
18.2%
20.7%
5.4%
6.5%
20.6%
1.6%
1.6%
Top Barriers by Employment
Status
Unemployed





Work Schedule
Available Time
Financial Resources
Time Commitment
Childcare
18.8%
28.2%
27.1%
7.1%
10.6%
Employed
part-time
Employed
full-time
44.7%
40.4%
31.9%
12.8%
10.6%
60.4%
59.6%
30.9%
23.9%
10.4%
Top Barriers by Income Level
Income Level




Available Time
Work Schedule
Financial
Resources
Time
Commitment
<20K
20-39K
40-59K
60-99K
>99K
32.1% 47.3%
37.5% 50.5%
52.3%
50.8%
63.9%
50.0%
51.0%
46.9%
44.6% 39.8%
40.0%
20.8%
4.1%
8.9%
18.5%
19.4%
20.4%
18.3%
Services Considered Important in
Making the Decision to Attend











94.6%
87.9%
87.7%
75.1%
70.5%
61.6%
60.0%
50.3%
48.8%
36.0%
29.0%
parking
library
bookstore
academic advising
career services and job placement
financial aid
tutoring services
food services
lifetime email address
student activities and campus life
bus transportation
Participants could select more than one answer.
Top Services Considered Important
by Age Group
Age Group
 Academic Advising
 Career Services
 Tutoring
 Student Activities
 Library
 Bookstore
 Food Services
 Financial Aid
 Parking
 Transportation
 Lifetime Email
<26
83.3%
74.0%
75.3%
66.2%
90.5%
94.6%
74.3%
64.9%
94.6%
41.9%
56.2%
26-40
70.7%
70.7%
64.2%
38.5%
86.7%
86.6%
47.8%
72.1%
92.6%
31.3%
45.9%
41-50
74.4%
68.5%
52.8%
19.8%
90.8%
87.8%
41.1%
63.2%
95.5%
23.0%
46.1%
>50
6.0%
52.5%
46.6%
18.3%
85.2%
83.9%
43.5%
35.5%
98.4%
18.0%
53.2%
Top Services Considered Important
by Employment Status
Unemployed











Academic Advising
Career Services
Tutoring
Student Activities
Library
Bookstore
Food Services
Financial Aid
Parking
Transportation
Lifetime Email
83.5%
79.3%
63.7%
38.3%
92.4%
92.7%
51.2%
67.1%
91.6%
32.9%
50.6%
Employed
part-time
Employed
full-time
78.7%
78.3%
72.7%
60.9%
89.1%
88.9%
70.2%
68.1%
95.7%
44.7%
50.0%
72.7%
66.8%
58.2%
29.8%
86.8%
86.4%
46.5%
60.2%
95.6%
24.8%
48.7%
Top Services Considered Important
by Income Level
Income Level
 Academic Advising
 Career Services
 Tutoring
 Student Activities
 Library
 Bookstore
 Food Services
 Financial Aid
 Parking
 Transportation
 Lifetime Email
<20K
20-39K 40-59K 60-99K
89.1%
89.1%
77.4%
56.4%
98.2%
94.5%
66.1%
80.4%
94.6%
50%
63%
85.6%
81.3%
70.0%
42.2%
91.2%
93.4%
52.2%
80.4%
92.4%
33.0%
56.5%
80.0%
72.3%
69.8%
30.8%
92.3%
84.4%
55.4%
76.6%
98.4%
28.1%
53.8%
66.2%
63.9%
47.1%
31.9%
81.9%
86.1%
40.3%
36.6%
94.4%
19.7%
43.1%
>99K
52.1%
40.8%
34.7%
12.2%
81.2%
79.2%
39.6%
25.0%
93.7%
14.6%
33.3%
Preferred Time and Method
of Using These Services

Method
• 61.5%
• 34.6%
• 3.8%

via Internet/web page
in person
via mail
Time
• 63%
• 26.6%
• 10.4%
evening
daytime
weekends
The Best Way to Receive
Information about CPCC








54.6%
42.2%
34.5%
29.4%
17.0%
9.3%
5.8%
3.2%
CPCC catalog/schedule
newspaper
Internet
word-of-mouth
television or cable channel
radio
workplace or company newsletter
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.)
College offers college transfer programs
College has supportive student environment
College contributes to economy of community
College strengthens social life of community
College offers technical career programs
Quality of faculty
College has available students services
College meets individual student needs
Percent responding
“I don’t kno
43.8%
42.6%
40.7%
37.8%
37.0%
36.3%
32.3%
28.3%
26.7%
What They Didn’t Know,
continued
Percent responding
“I don’t know”








College contributes to cultural life of community
Provides high quality programs and services
College has variety of methods
(in-class, distance ed., etc.)
College is financially affordable
Variety of class times
Commitment to lifelong learning
College offers a variety of programs
College has convenient locations, accessible
to work and home
26.5%
19.7%
18.3%
13.6%
11.8%
11.5%
8.6%
4.4%
Aspects of Our Mission Mean Scores (How We’re Doing)








Commitment to lifelong learning
College offers a variety of programs
College has convenient locations, accessible
to work and home
College offers technical career programs
College has variety of methods
(in-class, distance education, etc.)
College is financially affordable
College offers pre-college programs
(ESL, basic skills, adult HS, etc.)
Provides high quality programs and services
Scale 1-4 -poor, fair, good, excellent
Mean Score
3.23
3.17
3.14
3.12
3.10
3.07
3.06
3.05
How We’re Doing, continued
Mean Score









College offers college transfer programs
Quality of faculty
College contributes to economy of community
College meets individual student needs
Variety of class times
College has available students services
College contributes to cultural life of community
College strengthens social life of community
College has supportive student environment
Scale 1-4 - poor, fair, good, excellent

3.00
3.00
2.94
2.90
2.89
2.86
2.85
2.83
2.80
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 collegeexperience 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”