College Survey

OMB Control No. 1290-ONEW

Part X OMB Expiration Date: Month, Day, 202x

Appendix K. 
 
College Survey

Introduction

Mathematica is conducting a survey of Strengthening Community Colleges Round 4 (SCC4) projects in partnership with the Community College Research Center (CCRC) and Social Policy Research Associates (SPR). Your institution was selected because it received funding through the U.S. Department of Labor. Please see your email invitation for additional details. You were identified to complete the survey as the person most knowledgeable about the institution’s work related to the SCC4 project.

The purpose of the survey is to gather information about your SCC4 project. This includes information about the sectors or industries, and students you’re focused on, how you approached planning and early implementation, who you are partnering with, and what academic and nonacademic services you’re offering participating students. If there are questions you are not able to answer, please feel free to draw on the expertise and knowledge of others within your institution. If you need input from other staff, you will have a chance to indicate another respondent in the survey. The study team will reach out to the newly designated respondent. You may also print off specific questions for colleagues to answer on paper and then fill in the online responses yourself. We are happy to provide you with a hardcopy of the survey for reference upon request.

[RCT COLLEGES ONLY] Note: This survey pertains to your core SCC4 grant program, not the randomized controlled trial intervention. Please respond addressing your overall SCC4 efforts.

This survey will take approximately 40 minutes. Your participation is voluntary but highly encouraged, and you may choose not to answer any question or discontinue participation at any point. All information you share will remain private to the extent permitted by law. No one from your institution or the U.S. Department of Labor will see any of your responses and your name will never be associated with or identified in study reports.

If you have any questions about the survey, please email XXXX

We appreciate your input!

Public reporting for this survey is estimated to average 0.67 hours per response. The burden estimate includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintain the data needed, and completing and submitting the survey. This collection of information is voluntary. You are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Please send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attention: Departmental Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-1301, Washington, DC 20210 or email DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov and reference OMB Control Number [1290-0xxx]. Please do not send your completed survey to this address.

1. BACKGROUND

The first set of questions asks about you and your role at your institution.

A1. Please provide your name and title or position.

• Name [text box]

• Title [text box]

A2. In what office does your position fall at your institution? (Select all that apply.)

• Academic Affairs

• Student Affairs

• Continuing education/ workforce/ non-credit

• Administration

• Other (specify)

A3. What are your primary roles and responsibilities at your institution? (Select all that apply.)

• Admissions

• Advising

• Faculty

• Financial Aid

• Registrar

• Other (specify)

A4. When did you first start working at your institution?

Your best guess is fine.

• [Insert month and year]

A5. When did you start working in your current position at your institution?

Your best guess is fine.

• [Insert month and year]

A6. [If respondent is not the person research team identified] Are you responsible for overseeing and/or directing SCC4 project activities at your institution (e.g. Project Director)?

• Yes

• No

A7. [If No] Please provide the name, title, and contact information for the individual overseeing the SCC4 grant activities at your institution so the study team can share the survey with them.

• Name [text box]

• Title [text box]

• Phone Number [text box]

• E-mail address [text box]

[THANK YOU - SURVEY ENDS HERE FOR ORIGINAL RESPONDENT IF Q6 NO. CCRC SENDS SURVEY TO NAMED INDIVIDUAL.]

A8. [If Yes – Q6] Have you served in your current role overseeing your institution’s SCC4 project activities since the grant was first awarded?

• Yes

• No

A9. [If NO Q8] Since when have you overseen your institution’s SCC4 project activities?

Your best guess is fine.

• [Insert month and year]

A10. [If NO – Q8] How many other individuals have overseen your institution’s SCC4 project activities (i.e. Project Directors)?

• 1

• 2

• 3 or more

2. SCC4 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

In the next set of questions, we’d like to understand how your college has organized work related to SCC4, both during the proposal development stage and once you were awarded the grant. Specifically, we are interested in learning which stakeholders were involved at each stage and how the college is managing the day-to-day operations of the SCC4 project.

Proposal Development

B1. [If consortium] Did your college participate in SCC4 proposal development and planning activities?

• Yes

• No

B2. [If consortium AND B1 = Yes] Which of the following college stakeholders participated in developing your institution's SCC4 project proposal? (Select all that apply.)

• Senior Leadership at your college (e.g. President, Vice President)

• Mid-level Leadership at your college (e.g. Director)

• Grants administrators

• Direct service providers at your college (including advisors and faculty)

• Student(s)

• Main Grantee College (if your college is part of a consortium)

• Other Higher Education Institution(s)

• Employer(s)

• Community-based Organization(s)

• Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor or Intermediary

• Economic Development Agencies

• Workforce Development System(s)

• Worker Focused Organization(s)

• Labor-Management Partner(s)

• Labor Union(s)

• Other (please specify)

B2a. In what ways did [FILL THOSE WHO SAY YES AT B2] participate in developing your institution’s SCC4 project proposal? (Loop for responses to B2)

• Defining the problem or the area of need

• Identifying a solution that the SCC4 project can achieve

• Securing college and/or community partners

• Drafting proposal

• Developing Budget

• Other

3. SCC4 PROJECT DESIGN

The next set of questions is designed to understand your institution’s SCC4 project activities. These questions ask about your area of focus, project objectives, and population(s) of interest.

Program Sector

C1. What industry or industries are the focus for your SCC4 project activities? (Select all that apply.)

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Construction

• Clean or renewable energy

• Financial Services

• Healthcare

• Telecommunications or broadband infrastructure

• Transportation

• Other, please specify:

C2. As part of your SCC4 project activities, are you launching a new degree or training program or enhancing a previously existing degree or training program in each of the selected industries? [Program to repeat for each selected industry]

• Launching a new degree or training program

• Enhancing a previously existing degree or training program

• Both launching a new degree or training program(s) and enhancing a previously existing degree or training program(s)

C3. [If C2 = Both launching a new program(s) and enhancing a previously existing program(s)] What proportion of the students in each of the selected industries will be served through new degree or training programs?

• Less than 25%

• 25-49%

• 50-74%

• 75-100%

C4. [If C2 = Both launching a new program(s) and enhancing a previously existing program(s) What proportion of the students in each of the selected industries will be served through enhanced degree or training programs?

• Less than 25%

• 25-49%

• 50-74%

• 75-100%

Objectives

C5. Does your SCC4 project address the following workforce issues? [Select all that apply]

	YES	NO
The need for training programs in the community to adapt to meet the changing skill needs of employers and labor market demand.
Access to instruction in the industry of focus is limited because training programs in the community do not offer relevant programs or do not offer sufficient spots to meet the demand.
Training programs in the community do not have sufficient material resources (facilities, instructors, and/or equipment) to provide programing in the industry of focus
Low-skilled or other workers of interest have limited preparation for and access to job opportunities with competitive pay and benefits.
Other, please specify:

C6. Please indicate which, if any, of the following objectives apply to your SCC4 project?

	Yes	No
Meeting student enrollment goals
Meeting student credential/certificate attainment goals
Meeting student graduation/completion goals
Matching graduates with jobs that have competitive pay and benefits
Increasing earnings for graduates
Creating opportunities for promotion or moving up career ladders/ lattices
Achieving high trainee/participant satisfaction with the SCC4 training program
Meeting employer needs
Increasing skills of the workforce
Engaging low-skill or other groups of interest in training
Other, please specify:

C7. On a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being “not important at all” and 4 being “very important,” how important are the following objectives for your SCC4 project? [Program to only include items that selected in previous question.]

	Not Important at All 1	2	3	Very Important 4	Not Applicable
Meeting student enrollment goals
Meeting student credential/certificate attainment goals
Meeting student graduation/completion goals
Matching graduates with jobs that have competitive pay and benefits
Increasing earnings for graduates
Creating opportunities for promotion or moving up career ladders/ lattices
Achieving high trainee/participant satisfaction with the SCC4 training program
Meeting employer needs
Increasing skills of the workforce
Engaging low-skill or other groups of interest in training
Other, please specify:

Population of Interest

Population of Interest

C8. Please describe the population(s) of interest for your SCC4 project activities:

[SPECIFY:]

C9. Has the population(s) of interest for your SCC4 project activities changed since submission of your grant application?

• Yes

• No

4. SCC4 RECRUITMENT AND ENROLLMENT

The next set of questions ask about how your institution recruited and enrolled students into programs supported by SCC4.

Recruitment

D1. Please indicate if your institution conducted these recruitment activities for programs supported by SCC4. (Select all that apply.)

Recruitment Activity	Yes, for population(s) of interest	Yes, for general audience	No
Traditional advertising (i.e. print, television, radio, billboards)
Digital advertising (i.e. social media, email, web advertising)
Virtual events
In-person events (e.g., college fairs)
Working with K-12 institutions
Working with community-based organizations
Working with local businesses, employers, or industry groups
Other (please specify)

Enrollment

D2. When did you begin enrolling students in programs supported by SCC4?

• Spring 2025

• Summer 2025

• Fall 2025

• Winter 2026

• Spring 2026

• Summer 2026

• Fall 2026

• Winter 2027

D3. All together, how many students applied for occupational training programs supported by SCC4 between Spring 2025 and Winter 2027?

• 50 or less

• 51 to 100

• 101 to 150

• 151 to 200

• 201 to 300

• 301 to 400

• 401 to 500

• Over 500

D4. Which of the following enrollment activities or strategies does your institution use for students enrolling in occupational training programs supported by SCC4? (Select all that apply.)

Enrollment Activity	Yes, for population(s) of interest in programs supported by SCC4	Yes, for all students in programs supported by SCC4	No
Automatically enrolling students if on the track for the program
Offering a simplified application process (e.g. single application for college and program)
Offering rolling admission policies
Hosting same-day or “express” enrollment events
Providing one-on-one help with application
Assisting students applying for financial aid
Connecting students with financial assistance to waive prior fees and fines
Training financial aid and enrollment staff on working with students on enrollment process
Partnering with employers or community-based organizations to support/facilitate enrollment
Other (please specify) _________________

5. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

The next questions will ask about how your institution has implemented the SCC4 core components as part of the SCC4 project. The four core components categories include: (A) sector pathways; (B) strategy options; (C) jobs with competitive pay and benefits, employment outcomes, and student voice; and (D) systems change

Sector-Based Career Pathways Programs

E1. Which stakeholders provide input on industry/sector skill needs? (select all that apply)

• Employer(s)

• Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor or Intermediary

• Economic Development Agencies

• Workforce Development System(s)

• Worker Focused Organization(s)

• Labor-Management Partner(s)

• Labor Union(s)

• Community-based Organization(s)

• Other (please specify) ___________________

E2. Which stakeholders provide job placement assistance? (select all that apply)

• Employer(s)

• Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor or Intermediary

• Economic Development Agencies

• Workforce Development System(s)

• Worker Focused Organization(s)

• Labor-Management Partner(s)

• Labor Union(s)

• Community-based Organization(s)

• Other (please specify) ___________________

E3. Which stakeholders serve as liaisons with other employers/workforce groups? (select all that apply)

• Employer(s)

• Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor or Intermediary

• Economic Development Agencies

• Workforce Development System(s)

• Worker Focused Organization(s)

• Labor-Management Partner(s)

• Labor Union(s)

• Community-based Organization(s)

• Other (please specify) ___________________

Strategy Options (Ex.: academic and training offerings, comprehensive supports, and employer engagement)

Academic and Training Offerings.

E4. Please indicate if your institution provided the following academic and training offerings for SCC4 programs prior to SCC4.

	Available to some students in SCC4 programs prior to SCC4	Available to all students in SCC4 programs prior to SCC4
Specified pathways from non-credit to credit articulation
Paid work-based learning
Unpaid work-based learning
Hands-on training
Pre-apprenticeship
Registered apprenticeship
Embedded accelerated and contextualized foundational skills instruction
Competency-based education
Credit for prior learning
Flexible instruction, including modality, sequencing, and scheduling
Other (please specify)

E5. Please indicate if your institution provides the following academic and training offerings for SCC4 programs.

	Available to population(s) of interest in SCC4 programs	Available to all students in SCC4 programs	Planned but not yet available	Not currently available and not planned
Specified pathways from non-credit to credit articulation
Paid work-based learning
Unpaid work-based learning
Hands-on training
Pre-apprenticeship
Registered apprenticeship
Embedded accelerated and contextualized foundational skills instruction
Competency-based education
Credit for prior learning
Flexible instruction, including modality, sequencing, and scheduling
Other (please specify)

Comprehensive Supports

The next set of questions explore students’ engagement with support services available at your institution.

E6. Are students enrolled in training programs supported by SCC4 required to meet with an academic advisor or coach?

• Yes

• No

• It varies

E7. [IF E6 = Yes or It Varies] How often are students required to meet with a coach or advisor?

• Once a week or more

• A few times a month

• About once a month

• Once every two or three months

• A few times a year

• Once in their tenure in college

E8. Which of the following academic supports does your college offer directly to students? (Select all that apply)

Resources	Currently offered to all students	Currently offered to some students	Planned but not yet offered	Not planned or not offered
Navigating the college
Planning courses to take (education planning)
Developing soft skills and/or study skills (e.g. time management)
Balancing education with other demands (e.g. a job or family responsibilities)
Tutoring

E9. Which students are these academic resources available to? [Include only resources that were only available to some students in prior question]

Resources	Population(s) of interest in SCC4 programs	All students in SCC4 programs	Other populations at college
Navigating the college
Planning courses to take (education planning)
Developing soft skills and/or study skills (e.g. time management)
Balancing education with other demands (e.g. a job or family responsibilities)
Tutoring

E10. Which of the following wrap-around supports does your college offer directly to students? (Select all that apply)

Resources	Currently offered for all students	Currently offered for some students	Planned but not yet offered	Not planned or not offered
Transportation support (for example, a bus pass or gas card)
Emergency funds
Funds to support education-related needs (for example, books or exam fees)
Mental health support
Childcare support
Basic needs support (for example, access to a food pantry)

E11. Which students are these wrap-around resources available to? [Include only resources that were only available to some students in prior question]

Resources	Population(s) of interest in SCC4 programs	All students in SCC4 programs	Other populations at college
Transportation support (for example, a bus pass or gas card)
Emergency funds
Funds to support education-related needs (for example, books or exam fees)
Mental health support
Childcare support
Basic needs support (for example, access to a food pantry)

E12. Does your college refer students to additional resources in the community?

• Yes

• No

E13. [If E11 = YES] Which types of community-based resources are students referred to?

Select all that apply

• Transportation support (for example, a bus pass or gas card)

• Emergency funds

• Funds to support education-related needs (for example, books or exam fees)

• Mental health support

• Child care support

• Basic needs support (for example, access to a food pantry)

• Other (specify)

E14. Which of the following supports does your college offer directly to students to help them find, maintain, or advance in employment? (Select all that apply)

Resources	Currently offered for all students	Currently offered for some students	Planned but not yet offered	Not planned or not offered
Planning future careers, which could include interest or skills assessments
Preparing a resume/cover letter or filling out job applications
Interview preparation
Job search support / Referrals to available jobs
Job readiness workshops
Scheduling certification exam(s)
Paying for certification exams
Funds to support employment-related needs (for example, uniforms or tools)
Post-placement follow-up

E15. Which students are these employment supports available to? [Include only resources that were only available to some students in prior question]

Resources	Population(s) of interest in SCC4 programs	All students in SCC4 programs	Other populations at college
Planning future careers, which could include interest or skills assessments
Preparing a resume/cover letter or filling out job applications
Interview preparation
Job search support / Referrals to available jobs
Job readiness workshops
Scheduling certification exam(s)
Paying for certification exams
Funds to support employment-related needs (for example, uniforms or tools)
Post-placement follow-up

Employer Engagement

E16. In what ways do your occupational training programs supported by SCC4 engage employers?

	Employers have been engaged in this way for one or more occupational programs supported by SCC4 prior to the grant	Employers are engaged in this way for one or more occupational programs supported by SCC4	Engagement is planned but not yet available	Engagement is not currently available and not planned
Serve on program advisory committees
Assist in updating curriculum to include required skills/competencies
Provide work-based learning opportunities
Assist with job clinical placement
Provide mentorship
Recruit additional employers
Implement experiential learning activities
Connect students with human resources departments
Provide equipment donation or in-kind resources
Provide input on curriculum and program design
Tuition reimbursement programs
Data review/assessment

Post-Program Transition Supports

E17. What supports and services are provided to students who complete occupational training programs affected by SCC4 to help them find, maintain, or advance in employment after they complete their program?

• Planning future careers, which could include interest or skills assessments

• Preparing a resume/cover letter or filling out job applications

• Interview preparation

• Job search support / Referrals to available jobs

• Job readiness workshops

• Scheduling certification exam(s)

• Paying for certification exams

• Funds to support employment-related needs (for example, uniforms or tools)

• Post-placement follow-up

• Other (please specify) _____________________

Systems Change

E18. What other changes have you made or are currently making to sustain SCC4 project activities beyond the grant period?

• Restructuring a department or division of the college (e.g. greater integration across student and academic support)

• Reallocating funding for occupational training programs

• Streamlining student application

• Providing preferential registration for underserved groups

• Providing additional financial support

• Removing academic barriers for entry into occupational training programs

• Expanding access to credit for prior learning in occupational training programs affected by SCC4

• Formalizing policy changes that streamline credit/noncredit articulation and align colleges' policies and procedures around non-credit to credit articulation to clarify pathways

• Integrating student voice into colleges' program review process

• Leveraging existing sector leadership to continue convening employers, workforce boards, and other stakeholders

• Developing benchmarks for future evaluation and continuous improvement

• Other [please specify]________

Student Voice

E19. To date, in what ways is your institution collecting feedback from students enrolled in occupational training programs affected by SCC4? (Select all that apply.)

• Course feedback

• Formation of a Student Advisory Committee

• Exit interviews

• Recruitment of a student “champion”/ambassador

• Student focus groups/interviews

• Student surveys

• Participation on project team

• Other (please specify) [textbox]

Challenges

E20. To date, what challenges has your institution experienced implementing your SCC4 project? (select all that apply)

• Curriculum development

• Recruiting participants/low enrollment

• Hiring staff

• Upgrading/purchasing equipment and supplies

• Meeting demand for participation

• Other resource and capacity constraints)

• Supporting students with weak academic skills

• Helping students balance college and other obligations

• Lack of student engagement

• Lack of employer engagement

• Lack of institutional leadership support

• Program and/or accreditation approval

• Compliance with other external stakeholders (e.g. labor unions)

• Helping students obtain jobs related to training after completion

• Other (text field)

Open-Ended

E21. Please share anything else about your institution and/or your SCC4 project that you would like the research team to know.

[Text box]

27