This is the first of four planned publications based on the results of a national survey concerned with furthering understanding of enrollees in junior college occupational programs. The primary sources of data were approximately 5,000 students in vocational technical programs at 60 different public, community-junior colleges. Questionnaire data were gathered on students' personal and background characteristics, experiences, and perceptions. Where possible and meaningful, the findings were compared with those reported on other groups of student. In addition to contributing to the limited data pool on junior college vocational students, the study offers recommendations pertaining to the following areas: (1) increasing the extent to which post-secondary occupational education will have broader societal exposure, a more positive evaluation, and greater student accessibility, (2) the vital role played by guidance and counseling personnel, (3) the danger of applying stereotypical definitions to vocational students, (4) need for broader training programs, and (5) directions for future research. (Author/JS)