Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 1 of The Illinois Commitment
Employer Surveys
Fox College
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
Update instruction, curricula, and assessment on the basis of regular surveys of employers about what graduates
need to know and need to be able to do.
Description of the effective practice:
Each employer of a graduate is mailed a brief survey 16 weeks following completion of a program. The survey
asks the employer to rate on a scale of 1-4 his satisfaction with the graduate’s fundamental skills, professional
attitude, communication skills, office attire, and punctuality and attendance. The data collected are both
qualitative and quantitative. The rating scale provides quantitative data while the employer comments provides
qualitative data.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
Knowing the requirements of the employers are key to ensuring the College effectively prepares its graduates
for the workplace. Curricula revisions are often driven by employer feedback. The employers are being well
served as they continue to receive well-trained employees. The students also take with them strong cognitive
and behavioral skills, enabling them to be easily brought into employers’ companies and firms and be utilized
with appropriate training and education.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
The trend in employer responses has been encouraging in almost all areas. Specifically, the college has found it
increasingly important to enforce its strict dress code and attendance policies to meet the needs of employers. In
recent years the employer satisfaction of student's attendance has risen from 3.1 to 3.8. Further, the curriculum
has dramatically increased its focus on oral and written communication skills to meet the needs of the
employers. In recent years the employer satisfaction of students' communication skills have risen from 2.8 to
3.7.
Contact Information
Name: Jeff Marcum
Email: jmarcum@foxcollege.edu
Phone: (708) 636-7700
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