I’m Glad You Asked A Digest of Publications from the BC College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey 1996-2006 Survey (4Mb)

This digest is an overview of a decade’s analyses of findings from the BC College and Institute Student Outcomes (CISO) survey. The CISO survey is as comprehensive as any in North America with a similar purpose, and it has provided many helpful insights into the nature of BC public colleges and their students. The CISO project releases new data every year, including a few thematic, analytical papers and reports that are intended to advance our knowledge of how and why certain outcomes are occurring. Almost every analytical publication that is posted on the CISO website is described in this report, along with the key findings from each. The ten-year anniversary of web distribution seems a good occasion to take stock and summarize the important insights that the CISO survey has made possible.

2005 Admissions and Transfer Experiences of Students Continuing their Studies in British Columbia: Findings from the BC College & Institute Student Outcomes Survey (408Kb)

This study profiles the admission and transfer experiences of over 7,000 students who continued their studies in BC's public post-secondary system after having participated in a program at a college, university college, or institute. It also explores the extent to which students are able to access the institutions, programs, and courses of their choice. The report is based on input received from students through the 2005 BC College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey.

The Report and Newsletter are available at the BCCAT website.

Short Stay Summary Report

The 2003 BC College and Institute Short Stay Pilot Survey collected data on the outcomes of former students who left public colleges, university colleges, and institutes after completing a relatively small number of courses-between 9 and 23 credits.

The survey collected data on these former students' overall satisfaction with their institution, objectives for enrolling, reasons for leaving, employment outcomes, and further studies. Data for this report are from survey interviews conducted, by telephone, in February and March 2003.

Six BC institutions volunteered to fund and participate in the survey. There were two university colleges: the University College of the Cariboo and Okanagan University College; two urban institutions: Douglas College and BC Institute of Technology; and two rural colleges: Selkirk College and North Island College.

2002 Admissions and Transfer Experiences of Students Continuing their Studies in British Columbia: Findings from the BC College & Institute Outcomes Survey

This study profiles the admission and transfer experiences of almost 7,000 students who continued their studies in B.C.'s public post-secondary system after having participated in either an Arts and Science or an Applied program in a community college, university college, or institute. It also includes a very limited analysis of the admission experiences of students who did not continue their studies. The report is based on input received from students through the Year 2002 B.C. College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey.

The Report and Newsletter are available at the BCCAT Website

2001 BC College and Institute Aboriginal Former Student Outcomes (859Kb)

This report was commissioned by the Ministry of Advanced Education to present an analysis of education and employment outcomes of Aboriginal former students who were surveyed in 2001. As part of the analysis, outcomes data from surveys conducted in 1995, 1997, and 1999 are used for comparisons and trends. Throughout the report, Aboriginal former students are compared with the general population of former college, university college, and institute students.

In addition to a comprehensive examination of further education experiences and labour market outcomes--which includes employment rates, occupation choices, and salary comparisons--the report provides information on the characteristics of the Aboriginal former students surveyed, as well as their previous education, reasons for enrolling, the programs they took, and their evaluations of those programs. There is also a section on student finances and debt.

This is the third Aboriginal Former Student Outcomes report produced from data collected by the BC College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey (all three reports are available on this website).

How Former Students Financed Their College, University College, and Institute Programs: Special Report on Student Finances from the 2001 BC College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey (588Kb)

This special report provides information and analysis on sources of student funding and on the factors that appear to affect college and institute student debt. The findings are organized to answer the following questions:

• How many former students borrowed to finance their education?
• How much did former students borrow?
• What costs are driving student debt?
• Did some groups of former students face particular financial challenges?
• Have government student debt levels changed: 1999 - 2001?
• What were the major sources of financial support for former students?
• Did financial difficulties have an impact on enrolment patterns?
• Why do some former students have difficulty repaying their loans?

Study on Admissions and Transfer Experiences of Students Continuing their Studies in BC

With funding from the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT), CEISS' Education and Labour Market Information Services Group prepared a study on the admission and transfer experiences of over 6,000 students. The study is based on input received from students through the Year 2000 B.C. College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey, and profiles the experiences of those who continued their studies in B.C.'s public post-secondary system after having participated in the college and institute system.

The Report and Newsletter are available at the BCCAT Website

How College, University College, and Institute Students Finance Their Education (269Kb)

The data for this report were drawn from the 1999 BC College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey. One half of respondents from that survey were asked a series of questions on their sources of financial support while studying. The findings are organized to answer the following questions:

• What are the major sources of financial support for former students?
• Do all students incur government loan debt?
• What costs are driving student loan debt?
• Do financial constraints affect enrolment patterns?
• Do some groups of students face particular financial challenges?
• Do students need more information on managing loans?

1999 Evaluation of Services and Facilities by Former College, University College, and Institute Students (333Kb)

Former students' ratings of college, university college, and institute services and facilities are detailed in this report. Approximately one-half of respondents to the 1999 BC College and Institute Student Outcomes Survey were asked to evaluate 17 facilities and services, such as buildings and grounds, classroom facilities, places to study, help finding employment, and registration procedures. Comparisons are made based on demographics, size of institution, and program type.

1999 BC College and Institute Aboriginal Former Student Outcomes (321Kb)

This report explores the educational and labour market outcomes of Aboriginal former students who studied at BC's public colleges, university colleges and institutes. The data for this report were drawn from the 1995, 1997 and 1999 BC Colleges and Institutes Student Outcomes Surveys. Throughout the report, the results of Aboriginal former students are compared with those of non-Aboriginal former students.

Highlights, 1999 Aboriginal Student Outcomes (169Kb)

This report presents key findings from the 1999 BC College and Institute Aboriginal Former Student Outcomes report.

1998 Outcomes of Former Arts and Sciences Students (587Kb)

This report details the educational outcomes and experiences of former students who were enrolled in academic arts and sciences programs at British Columbia colleges and university colleges in the 1996-1997 academic year. The data for this report were drawn from the 1998 BC Colleges and Institutes Student Outcomes Survey. In total, 5,071 former students were interviewed, approximately 9 to 12 months after they completed all, or most, of their arts and sciences program. Much of the analysis conducted for this report distinguished lower level (1st and 2nd year) arts and sciences programs from upper level (3rd and 4th year) arts and sciences programs.

1998 BC College and Institute Outcomes of Former Students with Disabilities (204Kb)

This report examines the outcomes and satisfaction of former students with disabilities who were enrolled in Applied, Arts and Sciences, and Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs at BC's public colleges and institutes. The report is based on data collected in 1998, approximately nine months after students completed all, or a significant portion, of their program. The report compares the outcomes and experiences of former students with disabilities to former students without disabilities.

1997 BC Colleges and Institute Aboriginal Former Student Outcomes (275Kb)

This report examines the employment, further education, and satisfaction outcomes of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal former students who attended BC public colleges and institutes. The report is based on data collected in 1997, approximately nine months after students completed all, or a significant portion, of their program. The report compares the outcomes of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal former students from three program areas: Arts and Science, Applied, and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

1997 Outcomes of Former University, College and Institute Co-op Students Report (159Kb)

This report examines the education, labour market, and further education outcomes of former students who enrolled in co-op programs at one of British Columbia's public universities, colleges or institutes. To be included in this study, students had to be enrolled in an applied program that was funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and offered co-op work terms. College and Institute students who indicated they completed all of the co-op work placements required by their program and university students who reported they completed co-op placements as part of their bachelor's degrees were considered co-op students. College and institute and university students who were enrolled in the same programs, but did not complete the co-op work placements, were considered non-co-op students.

1996 BC College and Institute Co-op Student Outcomes Report (126Kb)

This report examines the employment, further education, and satisfaction outcomes of former students who were enrolled in applied co-op programs at BC public colleges and institutes. For this analysis, former students from applied programs with a co-op option were divided into two groups: those who took the co-op option and did all of the work terms (co-op students), and those who did not take the co-op option (non-co-op students).
The appendices include tables of key outcomes indicators for former BC college and institute co-op and non-co-op students for 1996.