President Mercier released Student Outcomes and Return on Investment reports today in conjunction with the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) press release.
The data in these reports speaks to the value of technical education as an economic driver in our community, and the importance of completion of job placement. The estimated annual payroll of the 1445 placed students in FY12 is $43,378,170. This is a conservative number using the lowest entry-level wage as published by DWS. Many tech college students start at higher wages. This amount reflects a $12,478,644 increase in earning ability over FY11.
While the data shows the economic return on investment, it does not fully capture the other benefits that come from completion and job placement. The personal achievement of completing, especially for first generation college graduates, is important for them and their families. We know that education is the primary tool to stop multi-generational poverty. In the same light, there is intrinsic value in working which benefits the entire community.
While emphasis on a completion initiative is college-wide, what happens at the individual, person-to-person level is significant. A collective dedication by faculty and staff makes the difference in encouraging students to complete programs.
Here is a summary of FY12 results compared to FY11:
| Accreditation Standard | FY11 | FY12 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completion | 60% | 85% | 88% |
| Placement | 70% | 90% | 90% |
| Licensure | 70% | 100% | 100% |
Jim Taggart, V.P. for Instruction, stated, “The entire college needs to celebrate these successes. Our continued efforts towards program completion for every student are essential. It gives the very best possible outcome for our students, our employers and demonstrates our vital impact in the community.”
