Author: Genevieve I. D. SiwabessyPublisher:
ISBN: 9781339066325
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
An increasing number of students are engaged in "non-traditional" pathways enrolling at multiple institutions within a system and across segments. These varied patterns were identified decades ago, yet most higher education studies have focused on the "traditional" pathway of students who begin at a community college to transfer to a four-year or students who begin at a four-year right out of high school. This study explores one of these other enrollment patterns, specifically, the reverse transfer phenomenon. Reverse transfer students are those who transfer to a community college from a four-year institution before obtaining a baccalaureate degree. The goal of this study was to construct common themes of the reverse transfer phenomenon using in-depth student interviews. Within these interviews, the protocol was structured to extract how students engage in the college selection process and to better understand how they perceived their higher education journey. Twelve community college students participated in this study at various points of their community college journey after transferring from their original four-year institution. Each interview was used to develop individual student profiles as one part of the analysis process, assisting in the identification of shared themes across participant stories. Students in this study held negative perceptions of the community college when they were in high school, which deterred them from enrolling directly into one. However, their perceptions changed once they enrolled in a community college to redirect their higher education journey. The reasons for enrolling in the community college included financial considerations and exploration of interests. Additionally, the students in this study share a common interest in continuing toward a baccalaureate degree; the community college is not meant to be the end of their schooling.
