Differences Between Faculty and Students Perception of Recruitment Techniques That Influence Students to Attend Four-Year Automotive Programs

The purpose of this study was to identify if differences existed between the perceptions of importance of recruitment techniques as reported by students within baccalaureate automotive technology programs and the faculty members who teach in these programs. Participants in the study were 382 students (Freshmen through Seniors) and 27 faculty members of the eight universities in the United States that offer automotive technology baccalaureate degrees. The survey instrument used in this study employed a scale to measure the perceptions of the students and faculty members concerning the importance of selected recruitment items. Overall, the responses between the faculty and the students were similar. Reputation of the automotive program, reputation of the university, campus visits and high school/community college teacher/counselor were four of the top five most effective recruitment items reported by both groups. Students and faculty differed in that students indicated parent/relatives were more important to them in the recruitment process than what the faculty perceived them to be, and the faculty revealed that friends at the university/community college/ high school, alumni of the university, and articulation or direct transfer from a community college were more important recruitment items than did the students.