Graduate survey results show success

For Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, 91 percent of its 2011 graduates found employment just six months after graduating.

(5/14/12): Successful college graduates need more than a degree. They need to possess essential skills to get the job done and the confidence to step up to a wide range of career challenges. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College prepares graduates for the real world by offering a technologically advanced college experience that is based on the latest theories, approaches, and industry standards.

Each year, WITC surveys graduates to find out how well their degree or diploma prepared them for their career. The results reveal an impressive track record of academic excellence and valuable career perspective. The six-month study of 2010-2011 graduates included 1,696 graduates who completed associate degrees and technical diplomas at any of the WITC campuses, outreach centers, and learning center. Out of that total, 1,444 graduates either responded to the mailed questionnaire, e-mail request, or the follow-up telephone contact, creating a response rate of 85 percent.

Ninety-one percent of the graduates were hired within just six months of graduating. Annual earnings of WITC graduates right after graduation are strong – averaging $33,670 annually.

The most satisfying part of the survey reveals that a high percentage – 72 percent of those employed – were able to start their career in an occupation related to their training.

“This strong job placement is the result of technical colleges providing our graduates the skills Wisconsin employers need,” said Dan Clancy, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Ninety-seven percent of the graduates said they were satisfied with the training they received at WITC and 98 percent would recommend WITC to a friend or family member.

Eighty percent of graduates who are employed in a job related to their WITC education are working in Wisconsin and contributing to the state’s economic development.

“We are confident that these graduates are well prepared and will leverage their education to make significant contributions to their respective communities,” said WITC President Bob Meyer.