COMPLETION RATE AT MINNESOTA AREA VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

Problem. Over the last ten years, enrollment at the Minnesota Area Vocational Technical Institutes (AVTIs) has doubled. This growth is the result of improved access to programs offered at the AVTI system. However, one major concern in vocational preparation at these institutes in the State of Minnesota is the decline in the percentage of participants that complete their training. Insufficient attention has been paid to this problem. There is need for information that can result in improving completion rates among individual AVTI programs.;Purpose. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the program completion rate at the Minnesota AVTIs.;Research Methodology. After an extensive review of the literature and the development of a research model for program completion rate, two economic period variables, three program characteristic variables, and six student characteristic variables were identified for possible use in the study. The sample was 758 programs which consisted of programs from seven occupational areas. Data on the selected program and student characteristic variables for two economic periods were gathered by two instruments: Enrollee Information Form (EIF) and Termination Report Form (TRF) from the Minnesota Vocational Follow-up System for Vocational Education at the Minnesota State Department of Education. Among the statistical methods used were chi-square analyses and two linear regression equations.;Principal Findings. Size of program was the variable with the greatest potential as a predictor of program completion rate at Minnesota AVTIs. Large programs, two-year programs, and metro programs had proportionately higher completion rates of 50 percent or more during economic period 1980-1982 than economic period 1975-77. There were proportionately more students under 21 years who were completers; more female completers; and more completers who were single. Also in high completion rate programs the proportion of completers was greater among students with high school diploma; with prior vocational training; and with prior work experience. Four of ten variables: size of program, length of program, location of program, and students with high school diploma made significant contributions to the prediction of program completion rate. These four variables occurred twice in the same order in the regression equations for 1975-77, and 1980-82.