This paper summarizes the first year of research at Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, New York, to develop an alternative process for determining characteristics of graduates and leavers from the college, and to uncover attitudes of those students about their college experience. The paper summarizes findings to date, although the author acknowledges that the model used is not completely developed nor are the data collection instruments fully refined. The model described in this paper is unique because it (1) contains provisions for short-term longitudinal analyses, (2) begins collecting data within one month after the student leaves or graduates from the college, (3) contains an extensive institutional evaluation component separate from the placement and transfer component, and (4) collects data from fall and spring graduates and leavers. The appendices include the institutional evaluation survey, a willingness reply card, and the follow-up survey forms. (Author/PN)