As the first phase of a longitudinal study, a survey was conducted in 1981 to establish a profile of students enrolled in career-technical programs at the community colleges and technical institutes in British Columbia. Information was sought regarding demographic characteristics; students' educational, experience, and employment backgrounds; educational objectives; and immediate and long-range career and educational plans. Responses were obtained from a total of 8,500 students, representing 65% of those entering career-technical programs at the community colleges and 46% of those entering the technical institutes. The study report details: (1) study objectives; (2) methodology, including data collection and analysis techniques; (3) overall population characteristics and characteristics by institution and by discipline cluster; (4) observations relating to demographics, previous education and employment, objectives in enrolling, influences on program and institution choice, and career/educational plans; and (5) implications concerning students, institutional role, geographic mobility, socioeconomic and educational characteristics, current and future career and educational objectives, and the role of the Open Learning Institute. Appendices include the questionnaire, responses by institution, program listings, and verbatim comments. Data tables are provided throughout the report. (KL)