Pathways and Barriers to Undergraduate Education: The case of art & design programs Deanne Fisher

Pathways and Barriers to Undergraduate Education:The case of art & design programs

Deanne Fisher Associate Vice-President, StudentsOCAD University@deannefisherMarch 1, 2013

OCAD UNIVERSITY 2

OCAD U: the University of the Imagination4,000+ students in 13 undergraduate programs

1000+ new admits each year, about 200 with transfer credit

OCAD UNIVERSITY 3

PATHWAYS TO OCAD U

• Portfolio-based admissions• Advanced standing • Course-by-course

credit transfer• Articulation agreements with

colleges

4

NSSE 2011Since graduating from high school, which of the following types of schools have you attended other than the one you are attending now? [Senior year respondents]

12% 11%

30%

15%

50%

5

NSSE 2011Since graduating from high school, which of the following types of schools have you attended other than the one you are attending now? [Senior Year respondents]

12% 11%

30%

15%

50%

8% 9%15%

9%

68%

OCAD U Ontario

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12

SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSFER STUDENTS

1. Do transfer students commit/engage/complete/succeed?

2. What motivates transfer students to come to OCAD U?

3. What is their experience of the transfer process?

4. Do we need to build more supports for transfer students?

Mix of quantitative and qualitative methods

Funded by CUCC/ONCAT in January 2012

Research team:

Mary Wilson, Director of the Centre for Innovation in Art & Design Education

Eric Nay, Associate Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Science

Laura Wood, Manager, Institutional Analysis

Deanne Fisher, Associate Vice-President, Students

Polly Buechel, Administrative Coordinator

4 Research Assistants

James D.A. Parker, Robyn Taylor, Holly Kristensen from Trent University

Pathways and Barriers to Art & Design Undergraduate Education for Students with Previous College or University Experience

OCAD UNIVERSITY 7

Interior work by Aamna Muzaffar ‘12

Comparing high school entrants to college and university transfers using NSSE

Among senior year students:• Time Usage: High school entrants spent

more time than college and university entrants relaxing or socializing.

• Academic Experiences: College and university entrants were more likely than high school entrants to participate in class discussions.

• Academic Performance: No significant difference in grades between the three groups

OCAD UNIVERSITY 9Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12

QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY

39 interviews over a two-week period:• 21 with previous university experience

– Mean age: 27– 45% male– Transfer credits of between .5 and 6.5– Most not from art & design programs

• 18 with Ontario college experience– Mean age: 23– 22% male– Transfer credits of between 1.0 and 7.5– Majority from art & design programs– Majority had completed college programs

10

BRIAN MORE LIVING WITH THE PAIN OF REGRET

OCAD UNIVERSITY 11Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12

DECISION FACTORS

Original choices of institution were based on:• Interest/passion in the subject• Location (either to get away from home or

to stay close to home)• Uncertainty/meeting expectations of others

(BA as the default)• As a means of getting into OCAD U

OCAD UNIVERSITY 12Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12

TRANSFER PROCESS

Pain points in the process include:• Difficulty locating the information• Length of time to get an answer regarding

transfer credits• Securing the required documents (syllabi)• The results: most students from both

cohorts were disappointed with the credits granted

OCAD UNIVERSITY 13Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12

Among university transfers:• Students experience difficulty moving

from the formulaic to the emotionally intense

• Students indicated they were unlikely to take advantage of any supports to help with this

TRANSITION

OCAD UNIVERSITY 14Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12

Among college transfers:• Students experience difficulty moving

from the concrete to the abstract• Students indicated an interest in

supports to help with this

TRANSITION

OCAD UNIVERSITY 15Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12

IMPLICATIONS + DISCUSSION

OCAD UNIVERSITY 16Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12

TRANSFER AS PART OF ENROLMENT STRATEGY

OCAD UNIVERSITY 17Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12

TRANSFER PROCESS

OCAD UNIVERSITY 18Interior work by Erin Loree ‘12

SUPPORT FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

OCAD UNIVERSITY 19

THANK YOU

Deanne Fisher

Associate Vice-President, Students

OCAD University

(416) 977 6000 x. 2850

[email protected]

@deannefisher