Transfer Student Transition Session 43: Thursday 1:45 – 2:45 Catherine Glennon, Ed.D. November 8, 2012
Dec 27, 2015
Transfer Student TransitionSession 43: Thursday 1:45 – 2:45
Catherine Glennon, Ed.D.November 8, 2012
Dissertation Study
Transfer Student Perceptions:
The Transition from a Two-Year,
Public College
to a Four-Year, Public University
Current Landscape
Discussion
Objectives
4- Year Campuses
UW Colleges2-Year Campuses
UWSP
WISCONSIN
UW Colleges2-Year Campuses
UW 4-YearUniversities
Introduction
Challenge
Call to increase # of college graduates
U.S. -- Ranked 12th
Highest % to enter college, but not graduate
Need strategies to improve graduation rates
Transfer Students
1/3 college students transfer
Provide less attention to transfer studentsAASCU, 2009; Lumina Foundation, 2010; Lee & Rawls, 2010; NACAC, 2010;National Center, 2006, 2008; NGA, 2009
Research Study
Primary Research Question:
What experiences do students who have transferred from a two-year college to a
four-year university face as they transition to their new institution?
Research Study
Ancillary Research Questions:
1.What services, programs, and support can the
two-year colleges and four-year university provide to transfer students to improve the transition process?
2.What actions can transfer students take to better prepare for, better cope with, and successfully complete the transition process?
Literature Foundation
Transfer Student Literature
Transfer Student Experience
Satisfaction and Integration
Transfer Student Adjustment
Schlossberg’s Transition Theory
StrengthenResources
Define Transition Event
APPROACHING TAKING STOCK OF TAKING
Goodman et al., 2006
Examine Coping Resources
Self Situation Support Strategies
Research Design
Methodology
Qualitative study
Fall 2011 transfer students at UWSP
Traditional age 2+ terms at UW Colleges Excluded 4-year experience Randomly selected 12/181
students
Population/Sample
Data Sources
2 interviews Student records
SUMMARY OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS
Students Gender AgeSemestersat UWC
GPAat UWC
Daisy Female 19 2 3.50Steven Male 19 2 2.82Violet Female 21 4 3.94Cody Male 20 2 3.83Isaac Male 20 2 2.68Kandace Female 20 4 3.08John Male 20 4 3.31Alexis Female 20 4 2.47Frank Male 21 4 3.40Elizabeth Female 20 4 3.76Krissy Female 20 4 2.91Alice Female 22 5 3.2112 Students 7 F / 5 M 19 - 22 2 - 5 2.47 - 3.94
CHANGES IN LIFE ROLES
Students Residence at UWC Residence at UWSP
Daisy Home Residence Hall
Steven Home Residence HallViolet Home Off-campusCody Home Residence HallIsaac Home Residence HallKandace Home - 1st year
Apartment – 2nd year
Off-campus
John Home Residence HallAlexis Home CommutesFrank Home Off-CampusElizabeth Home Residence HallKrissy Home CommutesAlice Home Off-Campus
11 Home / 1 Apt 6 On/4 Off/2 Commute
Changes in Life Roles
“I’m workingevery day, and I’m going to school every day and I’m living. I have to make all of my ownmeals and, you know, it’s quite a different story when you’re living completely on your own and go grocery shopping. Oh my goodness, grocery shopping! I have to go grocery shopping and I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
Findings
Themes:
1. Academic Transition
2. Social Transition
3. Support System
4. Time Management
5. Orientation to UWSP Campus
Theme#1
Students from the two-year UW Colleges experience a smooth academic transition toUW-Stevens Point.
Finding
Academic Transition
Theme#1
Academic Transition
Students
MajorCum GPAat UWC
Fall 2011 GPA
at UWSPDaisy FCS 3.50 3.71Steven Communication 2.82 2.89Violet English 3.94 4.00Cody Wildlife Ecology 3.83 3.94Isaac History 2.68 3.53Kandace Psychology 3.08 3.50John Pubic Adm &
Pol3.31 3.60
Alexis History 2.47 3.57Frank Music Educ 3.40 3.33Elizabeth Communication 3.76 3.79Krissy Social Work 2.91 2.67Alice Art 3.21 3.25
Theme#2
Social transition produced more anxiety & was more difficult than the academic transition.--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participants who lived in the residence halls reported more involvement in activities that supported their social transition.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The social transition improved over time as participants developed additional sources of support.
Finding
Finding
Finding
Social Transition
Theme#3
Participants’ transition was affected by their support system.
Finding
Support System
Prior to transfer
Parents Advisers
After transfer Peers/
Friends
Theme#4
Transfer students from theUW Colleges may benefit from enhanced time-management skills after transferring to the four-year university.
Finding
Time Management
Theme#5
Participants reported feeling lostand uninformed about services and programs at UW-Stevens Point.
Finding
Orientation to Campus
Recommendations
Recommendations for UW Colleges and UWSP
Meet annually
Provide transfer education programs
Recommendations for UW Colleges
Advise students to visit UWSP campus
Provide instruction on TIS
Recommendations (cont.)
Recommendations for UW-Stevens Point
Provide transfer student living options
Transfer Communities
Comprehensive orientation program
Include optional overnight stay in residence halls
Extend into first term
Transfer student seminar courses
Assess programming & services
Recommendations (cont.)
Recommendations for Future Transfer Students
Attend transfer student programming
Visit 4-year university
Become familiar with university website
Live in residence halls
Become involved
Future Inquiry
Longitudinal study
Examine perspectives of advisers
Assess recommended programs & services
Employ different methodology
Examine specific transfer student populations
Trends in Practices
Recognition of transfer students’ needs
Residential communities
Campus-based
Private apartment complexes
Transfer Student Services centers
Enhanced orientation programming
Student-led initiatives
Student organizations, Facebook, proposals
Significance of Topic Challenges
Needs of Growing Student Population
Impact on Recruitment
Ethical Responsibility
Effects on Future Alumni Donations