A follow-up study of McNeese State University engineering graduates

Abstract

Purpose. There were three main purposes of this study. First was the development and validation of an information form for use in securing data on graduates of engineering programs with special consideration given to data pertaining to ECPD accreditation criteria. Second was the establishment of normative data groups for general, chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. A sixth group included the graduates of chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering combined. The third purpose was to conduct a follow-up study of McNeese State University engineering graduates and make statistical comparisons with the norm groups. Procedure. A review of related literature was made to establish a theoretical base for the study. Factors related to the performance of graduates in professional practice and further academic study considered in ECPD evaluation of engineering programs for accreditation were ascertained. Other information concerning the perceptions held by graduates which would be of interest in program evaluation was also determined. An instrument to obtain these data were developed, reviewed by a jury of ECPD accrediting personnel, and validated by means of a pilot study. The revised information form was mailed to 219 McNeese graduates and 320 graduates of eight cooperating universities. A 75.8% return from McNeese graduates and 54.1% from graduates of other universities constituted the research samples. Statistical Analysis. The Fisher exact probability test was used to determine if there were significant differences between engineering graduates from McNeese and engineering graduates from other universities on "yes-no" and "scaled-response" items on the information form. Salary data were fitted to a linear regression model and the coefficients compared to determine if the slopes of the lines were significantly different. Statistical comparisons were made on sixty-three items for the six groups. A hypothesis of no differences between McNeese graduates and graduates of other universities was tested..