PUBLIC INPUT RESULTS
(Telephone Interviews)
(n=387)The results below are from public input and do not reflect the findings or opinions of the Comptroller or the review team.
METHODOLOGY
The 2002 Austin Community College (ACC) Public Input Survey is based on the results of 387 telephone interviews conducted with adult residents of the ACC tax district, which is comprised of the Austin, Leander and Manor ISD's. A random sample of ACC tax district households was provided by Survey Sampling, Inc. To ensure a geographically representative sample, households were randomly selected from each tax district zip code in direct proportion to residential telephone listings. English and Spanish interviewing was conducted from May 28, 2002 through June 3, 2002.
OBJECTIVES
Primary objectives of the 2002 ACC Public Input Survey include:
- Measuring levels of awareness of ACC programs and services among residents of the tax district.
- Measuring current and total rates of enrollment in ACC classes among tax district residents.
- Assessing perceptions of ACC's effectiveness in the core mission areas of higher education and workforce training programs and services.
- Assessing public opinion of ACC's performance in areas of fiscal responsibility, responsiveness to the needs of the Austin business community and responsiveness to the needs of the community in general.
- Measuring any differences in perceptions of those whose households include someone who is attending or has attended classes at ACC and those who have no direct experience with the institution.
- Develop a demographic profile of adult residents of the ACC tax district.
PRIMARY RESULTS
Significant findings of the 2002 ACC Public Input Survey include:
- Public awareness of ACC higher education and workforce training programs and services is moderate, with half of respondents indicating they know a great deal or some about ACC.
- Utilization of ACC programs and services is high, with one in seven respondents indicating a member of their household is currently enrolled and half indicating a member of their household has ever attended classes at ACC.
- Although substantial percentages indicate they do not have sufficient knowledge to rate ACC, respondents who provided ratings indicate positive views of ACC's effectiveness in providing higher education and workforce training programs and services.
- Tax district residents also view ACC favorably in comparison to other community college systems in Texas.
- Survey respondents provide positive to highly positive ratings of ACC's fiscal responsibility and responsiveness to diverse community needs. Although ratings of responsiveness to business community needs are somewhat lower, this is largely a function of higher percentages indicating neutral opinions in this area.
- Positive perceptions of ACC extend to a high degree of willingness to consider enrolling in classes offered by the institution.
- Respondents whose household includes someone who has attended classes at ACC exhibit higher levels of awareness and more positive views of the institution on virtually all measures.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Levels of public awareness of educational and workforce training programs and services provided by ACC are moderate:
- Half or 50 percent of the survey respondents indicate they know about the programs and services ACC provides.
- An equal percentage, 50 percent indicate they do no know about the programs and services ACC provides.
Awareness and ACC Enrollment
As would be expected, survey respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC express significantly higher levels of awareness of ACC programs and services than their counterparts whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC:
- Two thirds or 67 percent of the respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC indicate they know about ACC programs and services. This is double the percentage of respondents whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC (32 percent) who indicate this level of knowledge.
ACC UTILIZATION
As measured by current and prior enrollment in ACC programs and services, utilization is high among tax district residents:
- Approximately one respondent in seven or 15 percent indicates a member of their household currently attends classes at ACC.
- Over 52 percent of respondents indicate someone in their household has attended classes at ACC.
PERCEPTIONS OF ACC EFFECTIVENESS
As might be expected on the basis of public awareness levels, substantial percentages of tax district residents indicate they do not have sufficient information to provide ratings of the effectiveness of ACC's higher education (34 percent) and workforce training (45 percent) programs and services. However, among those who provided ratings, views of ACC effectiveness are substantially positive:
- On a scale of one to ten where one is "not at all effective" and ten is "very effective," respondents provided a mean or average rating of ACC's effectiveness in providing higher education programs of 7.53. Over one quarter or 29 percent of the respondents provided highly positive ratings as compared to only two percent who provided highly negative ratings.
- On the same ten-point scale, respondents provided a mean or average rating of ACC's effectiveness in providing workforce training programs of 7.41. Almost one quarter or 24 percent of respondents provided highly positive ratings as compared to only two percent who provided highly negative ratings.
- Although 43 percent of the respondents were able to compare the job ACC does in providing higher education and workforce training programs with the job done by other community colleges in Texas, virtually all or 98 percent of the respondents who provided ratings indicated that ACC does a better job or about the same job as other community colleges.
Effectiveness Ratings and ACC Enrollment
As would be expected, tax district residents whose households include a member who has attended ACC were substantially more likely to be able to provide ratings of ACC's effectiveness. In addition, respondents whose households include someone who has attended ACC provide slightly higher effectiveness ratings:
- On average, three quarters or 77 percent of respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC were able to provide ratings of the effectiveness of ACC higher education and workforce training programs. In comparison, less than half or 44 percent of respondents whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC were able to provide effectiveness ratings.
- Among those who provided ratings, respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC provided a slightly higher mean rating (7.63) of the effectiveness of ACC higher education programs than those whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC (7.32).
- Respondents whose households do and do not include a member who has attended ACC provided comparable ratings of the effectiveness of workforce training programs provided by ACC.
- Respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC were somewhat more likely than their counterparts, 54 percent versus 45 percent, to indicate that ACC does a better job of providing higher education and workforce training programs than other community colleges in Texas. However, virtually all or 98 percent of both subgroups indicate ACC does a better or the same job as other community colleges.
PERCEPTIONS OF ACC FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
As measured by respondent perceptions of use of tax dollars and value provided, survey results indicate tax district residents hold positive views of ACC's fiscal responsibility:
- Seventy-one percent of survey respondents, either strongly agree or agree that the public is getting its money's worth with ACC.
- Sixty-one percent of survey respondents either strongly agree or agree that ACC makes good use of their tax dollars.
- One quarter or 27 percent of respondents expressed neutral opinions of ACC's use of tax dollars and 20 percent expressed a neutral view of whether the public is getting their money's worth with ACC.
Fiscal Responsibility Perceptions and ACC Enrollment
Respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC classes express significantly more positive views of the institution's fiscal responsibility than those whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC:
- Eighty-one percent of respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC strongly agree or agree that the public is getting their monies worth with ACC. In comparison, 61 percent of the respondents whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC strongly agree or agree that the public is getting their monies worth with ACC.
- Seventy-two percent of respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC strongly agree or agree that ACC makes good use of their tax dollars. In comparison, 51 percent of those whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC strongly agree or agree that ACC makes good use of their tax dollars.
PERCEPTIONS OF ACC RESPONSIVENESS TO BUSINESS
Although substantial percentages indicate neutral opinions on questions regarding ACC's responsiveness to the business community, positive perceptions in this area outnumber negative ones except for "attracts new companies and jobs":
- Two thirds or 66 percent of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that ACC does a good job of serving the business community's training and education needs.
- Just over half or 56 percent of tax district residents either strongly agreed or agreed that ACC works effectively with the business community.
- Fifty-three percent of the survey respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that ACC responds to changes in the economy or the business community's needs.
- Almost half or 47 percent of the respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that ACC's programs help attract new companies and jobs to the Austin area.
Responsiveness to Business Communtiy Perceptions and Enrollment in ACC
Respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC classes also express significantly more positive views of ACC's responsiveness to the business community than their counterparts whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC:
- Three quarters or 76 percent of the respondents whose households include someone who has attended ACC agree the institution does a good job of serving the business community's training and education needs as compared to 56 percent of those whose households do not include someone who has attended.
- Two thirds or 64 percent of the respondents whose households include someone who has attended ACC strongly agree or agree that ACC works effectively with the business community as compared to 48 percent of those whose households do not include someone who has attended.
- Fifty-eight percent of the respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC strongly agree or agree that ACC responds to changes in the economy or the business community's needs as compared to 48 percent of respondents whose households do not include someone who has attended.
- Half or 51 percent the of respondents whose households include a member who has attended classes strongly agree or agree that ACC's programs and services help attract new companies and jobs to Austin as compared to 42 percent respondents whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC.
RESPONSIVENESS TO COMMUNITY
Some of the highest levels of agreement with positive statements about ACC were found on items measuring perceived responsiveness to community needs:
- Eight-three percent of the tax district residents either strongly agree or agree that ACC offers classes at times and places that are convenient and easy to access.
- Two thirds or 67 percent of the survey respondents either strongly agree or agree that ACC is sensitive to the needs of different racial and ethnic groups in the community.
Responsiveness to Community Perceptions and Enrollment in ACC
Respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC classes also express significantly more positive views of ACC's responsiveness to the community than those whose households do not include a member who has attended ACC:
- Ninety-one percent of the respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC classes strongly agree or agree that ACC offers classes at places and times that are convenient and easy to access as compared to 74 percent of those whose households do not include someone who has attended ACC.
- Three quarters or 76 percent of the respondents whose households include someone who has attended ACC classes strongly agree or agree that ACC is sensitive to the needs of different racial and ethnic groups in the community as compared to 56 percent of those whose households do not include someone who has attended ACC.
WILLINGNESS TO ENROLL
Positive perceptions of ACC extend to a high degree of willingness to consider enrolling in classes offered by the institution:
- Over two thirds or 69 percent of tax district residents whose households include a member who has attended ACC indicated they would be willing to consider enrolling at ACC.
- Seventy-nine percent of the respondents whose households include a member who has attended ACC classes strongly agree or agree they would consider enrolling at classes in ACC, as compared to 57 percent of those whose households do not include someone who has attended ACC classes who strongly agree or agree they would consider enrolling at classes in ACC.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Sections which follow provide a demographic profile of the adult population residing in the ACC tax district.
Race/Ethnic Composition
Anglo Non-Hispanics comprise 69 percent. Hispanics comprise 20 percent. Black Non-Hispanics comprise 5 percent. Individuals of international origin comprise 4 percent. American Indians or Alaska Natives comprise 2 percent and Asians or Pacific Islanders comprise 1 percent.
Race/Ethnic Composition Group Percent Anglo Non-Hispanic 68.5% Black Non-Hispanic 5.2% Hispanic 19.7% Asian/Pacific Islander 1.0% American Indian/Alaska Native 1.6% International 3.9% The small survey sample size (n = 387) and the predominance of Anglo Non-Hispanics in the adult population precluded statistically viable analysis of differences across racial and ethnic groups.
Household Income
Over half or 52 percent of respondents interviewed for the ACC Community Input Survey report annual household incomes of $50,000 or more and fewer than 8 percent report an annual household income of less than $15,000.
Annual Household Income Income Percent Less than $5,000 2.6% $5,000 - $14,999 5.2% $15,000 - $24,999 11.1% $25,000 - $34,999 9.8% $35,000 - $49,999 19.0% $50,000 - $74,999 24.2% $75,000 or More 28.1% Education
Approximately half or 49 percent of adult residents of the ACC taxing district have a college education or above with an additional quarter or 27 percent having at least some college experience. In contrast, 8 percent have less than a high school education.
Educational Attainment Educational Level Percent Less than High School 8.3% High School Graduate 15.8% Some College 26.6% College Graduate 25.8% Higher than College Degree 23.5% Age Distribution
Adults between the ages of 35 and 49 represent 35 percent of the respondents to the survey. Adults between the ages of 50 and 64 represent 21 percent and adults between the ages of 25 to 34 year olds represent 21 percent. The remaining 24 percent are 65 or older, 13 percent or between the ages of 18 and 24, 11 percent.
Additional Demographic Characteristics
Other demographic characteristics of 2002 Austin Community College Public Input Survey respondents include:
- Three quarters or 76 percent of the survey respondents report they have access to a computer at home and 70 percent have access to the Internet at home.
- Over two thirds or 69 percent of the respondents live in households comprised of three or fewer persons. Average household size is 2.84 persons.
- Two thirds or 65 percent of the respondents are employed either full time or part time.
- Almost three quarters or 73 percent of the respondents own the house they currently occupy.
- Almost two thirds or 65 percent of respondents have lived in the ACC tax district for ten or more years.
SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
- Do you live in the ACC district area - Austin ISD, Leander ISD or Manor ISD?
Yes No Total 100.0% 0.0% 100.0% - Do you or anyone in your household work for Austin Community College?
Yes No Total 0.0% 100.0% 100.0% - Do you or does anyone in your family attend ACC?
Yes No Total 14.7% 85.3% 100.0% - On a scale of one to ten where one is 'not at all effective' and ten is 'very effective,' how effective is Austin Community College in providing higher education programs?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total 1.6% 0.8% 1.2% 4.0% 7.9% 7.5% 16.6% 31.2% 13.0% 16.2% 100.0% - On a scale of one to ten where one is 'not at all effective' and ten is 'very effective,' how effective is Austin Community College in providing workforce training programs?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total 0.5% 1.4% 1.9% 0.9% 11.4% 9.0% 18.0% 33.2% 10.4% 13.3% 100.0% - Overall, would you say that Austin Community College does a better job, about the same job, or a worse job of providing higher education and workforce training programs than other community colleges in Texas?
Better Job About the Same Worse Job Total 49.8% 48.0% 2.3% 100.0% - How much would you say you know about educational and workforce training programs and services provided by Austin Community College?
A Great Deal Some Not Much Nothing at All Total 9.9% 39.8% 23.8% 26.5% 100.0% (Definition of Columns: SA = Strongly Agree; A = Agree; N = Neutral; D = Disagree;VSD = Strongly Disagree; DK = Don't Know)
- Austin Community College makes good use of my tax dollars.
SA A N D SD Total 9.4% 52.3% 26.9% 10.3% 1.1% 100.0% - Austin Community College works effectively with the business community.
SA A N D SD Total 7.0% 49.1% 40.1% 3.2% 0.6% 100.0% - Austin Community College is sensitive to the needs of different racial and ethnic groups in the community.
SA A N D SD Total 15.9% 51.3% 30.4% 1.4% .9% 100.0% - Austin Community College's programs help attract new companies and jobs to the Austin area.
SA A N D SD Total 3.8% 42.8% 40.7% 11.6% 0.9% 100.0% - Austin Community College offers classes at times and places that are convenient and easy to access.
SA A N D SD Total 22.6% 60.3% 12.9% 3.3% .8% 100.0% - Austin Community College does a good job of serving the business community's training and education needs.
SA A N D SD Total 7.7% 58.5% 30.4% 3.2% .3% 100.0% - Austin Community College responds to changes in the economy or the business community's needs.
SA A N D SD Total 5.2% 47.8% 40.6% 6.4% 0.0% 100.0% - I would consider enrolling in classes at Austin Community College.
SA A N D SD Total 16.9% 51.9% 9.7% 16.4% 5.1% 100.0% - I feel that the public is getting its money's worth with Austin Community College.
SA A N D SD Total 14.0% 57.0% 20.4% 8.1% 0.6% 100.0% - Has any member of your household ever attended classes at Austin Community College?
Yes No Total 51.7% 48.3% 100.0% - Do you have access to a computer at home?
Yes No Total 75.7% 24.3% 100.0% - Do you have access to the Internet at home?
Yes No Total 70.2% 29.8% 100.0% Demographics
D1. Now I have a few background questions and we will be finished. First, how long have you lived in the Austin Community College district, including Austin ISD, Leander ISD or Manor ISD?
Less than 1 year 1-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-10 Years 10+ Years Total 1.6% 7.3% 13.1% 12.8% 65.2% 100.0% D2. Counting yourself, how many people live in your household full time?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total 19.4% 32.1% 17.1% 18.1% 8.8% 1.8% 0.8% 0.5% 0.8% 0.5% 100.0% D3. What is the highest grade of school or level of college you completed?
Less than High School High School Graduate Some College College Graduate Higher Than BA/BS Total 8.3% 15.8% 26.6% 25.8% 23.5% 100.0% D4. Are you...
Married Single Total 56.3% 43.7% 100.0% D5. Are you currently...
Employed Full Time Employed Part Time Unemployed Retired or Disabled Going to School A Home-maker Other Total 58.4% 6.8% 5.8% 15.2% 5.0% 8.1% 0.8% 100.0% D6. If you are married, is your spouse currently...
Employed Full Time Employed Part Time Unemployed Retired or Disabled Going to School A Home-maker Other Total 67.4% 4.7% 1.4% 13.5% 0.0% 11.2% 1.9% 100.0% D7. Do you own or rent your current residence?
Own Rent Live Rent Free Total 72.9% 26.3% 0.8% 100.0% D9. Are you currently between the ages of...
18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65 or Older Total 10.8% 20.7% 34.6% 21.0% 12.9% 100.0% D10. Do you consider yourself...
Anglo-Non Hispanic Black-Non Hispanic Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander American Indian/Alaska Native International Total 68.5% 5.2% 19.7% 1.0% 1.6% 3.9% 100.0% D11. Last year, was your total income before taxes...
Less than $5,000 $5,000 - $14,999 $15,000 - $24,999 $25,000 - $34,999 $35,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $74,999 $75,000 or More Total 2.6% 5.2% 11.1% 9.8% 19.0% 24.2% 28.1% 100.0% D12. Record Gender:
Male Female Total 47 .5% 52.5% 100.0%
