Sources of Influence on Students' Enrollment Decision in Post-Secondary Vocational-Technical Education

Descriptive survey research methodology was used to explore and describe factors--demographic, influential, or informational--that influenced student enrollment decisions in entry-level Welding Technology Program (WTP) courses. The target population included 38 students enrolled in the first semester courses offered by the WTP at Dona Ana Community College (DABCC) during fall 1995 and spring 1996 semesters. The questionnaire used checklist, anchored five-point Likert type, and open-ended questions. It inventoried the areas of influence and information that may have influenced student decisions to enroll in the WTP at DABCC, attitudes of students toward DABCC, and student demographic information. Respondents were mostly male (only two female); less than one quarter considered themselves as belonging to a cultural or ethnic minority; three quarters were single; and their average age was 26. Friends of respondents were the largest single source of information leading to awareness knowledge. The factor of student interest in learning about welding was very influential to enrollment decisions, whereas family pressure and friend(s) also enrolled in the WTP were not influential factors. Respondents had a positive attitude toward DABCC as an institution. (Contains 18 references.) (YLB)