Tracking Graduation and Employment of Florida Engineering Technology AS Program Students

The goal of the Florida Education & Training Placement Information Programs (FETPIP) data collection and consumer reporting system, established by Florida Statutes Section 1008.39, is to provide follow-up data on former students and program participants who have graduated, exited or completed a public education, or training program within the State of Florida. The statute requires all elements of Florida's workforce development system to use information provided through FETPIP, for any project they may conduct requiring automated matching of administrative records for follow-up purposes. FETPIP's method of data collection replaces conventional survey-type techniques, and provides information in an accurate and cost effective manner. The follow-up studies are conducted annually by matching records of the student graduates, completers or exiters from the numerous public and independent organizations with information resources available to FETPIP. Follow-up on a quarterly basis is also done for some groups.

Since 2013 FLATE uses the FETPIP data, provided by the Florida Department of education (FLDOE), to help track the employability of Engineering Technology (ET) Associated in Science (AS) program graduates and monitor their average Annual Earning per year. A major goal of Florida's K-20 Education system is to improve employment and earnings outcomes for all students. This information is part of the performance accountability processes for all parts of the K-20 system and serves as an indicator of student achievement and program needs.

How it Works
The processes used by FETPIP rely on a technique referred to as "record linkage". This term describes a computerized process, which combines individually identifiable data from several different administrative databases. The purpose of the linkage is to develop aggregate statistics from the combinations that describe the experiences of student groups or participants after graduation or exiting from education or training programs. The aggregates are used to produce outcome performance measures that are intended to assist in evaluating the success of educational programs.
Participants are universities, community colleges, school districts, selected private vocational schools, colleges and universities, welfare transition services, workforce investment act (WIA), corrections system, farm worker jobs and education programs, and specialized and longitudinal studies

Limitations
FETPIP does not report matched numbers (headcount) of 5 or less for any industry title FETPIP makes the “match” decision at the state level based on industry title, not occupation
FETPIP data only matches a three month span of college data – Oct., Nov., Dec. of a given year; FETPIP does not match and provide data reflecting an entire year
FETPIP data runs two years behind for students enrolled and graduated, and will not accurately reflect local follow up data such as instructor blogs, social media, and other personal contacts

2017-18 ET AS Degree Program Completers Statewide, FETPIP Follow-up Outcomes 
According to the FETPIP data reported in 2020, a total of 161 individuals reported for follow-up to FETPIP completing the ET AS  Degree program during the period of 2017-18. This number represents 11.8% increase compared to 144 reported in 2016-17. Of these total individuals only 122 (76%) were found employed. Similar percentage was found on 2016-17 with 112 (78%). Average annual earnings of $47,668 (average quarterly earnings of $11,917) showed a decrease of more than 7.8 % ($51,384 ) when compared with previous report (2015-16).

Table 1 contains the data collected from year 2011 to 2018, which includes information regarding student graduates, completers or exiters from the Florida colleges offering the ET A.S. degree with information resources available to FETPIP.

Table 1. 2011-18 Engineering Technology-ET (Program 1615000001) AS Degree Completers FETPIP follow-up outcomes.

# ET graduates found employed = The number of individuals with wages during the 4th quarter (October to December) from those who graduated in 2018.

Data summarized in table 1 and graphs 1- 6 represents data built in two year lag time and only matches a three month span of college data (Oct., Nov., Dec. of a given year), except for the average annual earning which were estimated purposely for this report. FETPIP does not provide data reflecting an entire year.

Even though there is a 2% reduction in individuals found employed in this report year, the overall data reported from 2011 to 2018 has shown a positive trend in the number of AS degree completers (figure 1) and ET graduates (figure 2) that were employed. During 2011-12 there were 13 colleges and by the end of 2017 there were 23 (out of 25) colleges in Florida offering the ET AS degree program. 

Regarding the average annual earning per year, 2017-18 shows a slight decrease in earnings shown in figure 4. Overall average annual earnings during the past seven years, shows that ET and related manufacturing careers continue growing strong in Florida strengthening the skills of technicians, whose work is vitally important to the nation’s prosperity and security.

This information is part of the performance accountability process for all parts of the K-20 system and serves as an indicator of student achievement and program needs. It helps educators and parents better prepare and counsel students for success in their future education and career choices. 


Every day, FLATE and its industry, government, academic, and community partners join efforts to support Florida's manufacturing and advanced technical education, and improve employment and earnings opportunities for all students. It is important for us to know how our students are doing and tracking graduation and employment of our students is a good measurement tool. Information provided by FETPIP gives us a very high-level response from the state.  Individual college programs may survey their graduates directly to learn more details of their after graduation work experiences.  Local surveys of working graduates can provide feedback about what skills their local employers want in graduates which can help tune the content of the program.

For more information about the Florida Education & training Placement Information Program (FETPIP) visit FLDOE-FETPIP. For More information about Florida’s Engineering Technology AS Degree contact visit fl-ate.org or contact Dr. Marilyn Barger, FLATE Executive Director (barger@fl-ate.org).

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