Understanding the Transition Experience of Community College Transfer Students to a 4-year University

Understanding the Transition Experience of Community College Transfer Students to a 4-year University PDF Author: Tony Alan Lazarowicz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781321671452
Category : Community college education
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
With over 60% of college graduates attending multiple institutions (United States Department of Education, 2006), many starting at community colleges, the importance of understanding community college transfer students' stories is critical to retention and graduation agendas at colleges and universities nationwide. Schlossberg's Transition Theory has recently been introduced into higher education literature as a conceptual framework for working with various student populations such as student veterans (Wheeler, 2012; Rumann, 2010); student athletes (Henderson, 2013); and students on academic probation (Tovar & Simon, 2006) among others. Minimal work has incorporated Schlossberg's Transition Theory into studies of community college transfer students; thus this study was developed to help fill that gap of understanding their transition through that lens. The central question to the study was "how do community college transfer students perceive their transition into a large research, land-grant institution." This phenomenological qualitative study incorporated journaling and interviews with 12 full-time community college transfer students (21-41 years old) at three points during their first semester (fall 2014) at a large Midwestern research institution. Using open, axial, and selective coding, the following five themes emerged: funding the college experience; transition takes time; support is critical; maturity; and personal responsibility. These participants transition experience, as indicated by the emergent themes, fit well within the context of Schlossberg's Transition Theory. Overall, these participants' transition meant an opportunity to move forward, start a new chapter, and expand one's opportunities. Consistent with other studies that have used Schlossberg's Transition Theory, there is value in considering this theoretical framework when working with community college transfer students. When universities create policies and procedures that are geared toward increasing student's assets in Schlossberg's 4-S coping resources and are mindful of the full transition (moving in, moving through, and moving out), administrators, staff, and policy makers can assist in the transition for community college transfer students and provide support to a growing portion of the student population in higher education.

Understanding the Transition Experience of Community College Transfer Students to a 4-year University

Understanding the Transition Experience of Community College Transfer Students to a 4-year University PDF Author: Tony Alan Lazarowicz
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781321671452
Category : Community college education
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
With over 60% of college graduates attending multiple institutions (United States Department of Education, 2006), many starting at community colleges, the importance of understanding community college transfer students' stories is critical to retention and graduation agendas at colleges and universities nationwide. Schlossberg's Transition Theory has recently been introduced into higher education literature as a conceptual framework for working with various student populations such as student veterans (Wheeler, 2012; Rumann, 2010); student athletes (Henderson, 2013); and students on academic probation (Tovar & Simon, 2006) among others. Minimal work has incorporated Schlossberg's Transition Theory into studies of community college transfer students; thus this study was developed to help fill that gap of understanding their transition through that lens. The central question to the study was "how do community college transfer students perceive their transition into a large research, land-grant institution." This phenomenological qualitative study incorporated journaling and interviews with 12 full-time community college transfer students (21-41 years old) at three points during their first semester (fall 2014) at a large Midwestern research institution. Using open, axial, and selective coding, the following five themes emerged: funding the college experience; transition takes time; support is critical; maturity; and personal responsibility. These participants transition experience, as indicated by the emergent themes, fit well within the context of Schlossberg's Transition Theory. Overall, these participants' transition meant an opportunity to move forward, start a new chapter, and expand one's opportunities. Consistent with other studies that have used Schlossberg's Transition Theory, there is value in considering this theoretical framework when working with community college transfer students. When universities create policies and procedures that are geared toward increasing student's assets in Schlossberg's 4-S coping resources and are mindful of the full transition (moving in, moving through, and moving out), administrators, staff, and policy makers can assist in the transition for community college transfer students and provide support to a growing portion of the student population in higher education.

Understanding the Community College Transfer Student Experience from the Student Voice

Understanding the Community College Transfer Student Experience from the Student Voice PDF Author: Meg Nowak
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Community college students
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
The meaning that each transfer student derives from a particular learning experience is unique and each individual's experience is filtered through their personal understandings, beliefs, and values. This purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of how transfer students interpret and talk about their transfer experience. The life of transfer students is generally not accessible through objective instruments and quantitative approaches. Through the use of qualitative methods this research study will assist the profession in gaining an understanding of the transfer student voice and expand the breadth and depth of knowledge about the transfer students' experience in higher education. Twenty-three transfer students at a four-year institution and eight faculty or administrators that work directly with those transfer students were interviewed. A common factor that all students in the study experienced was attendance at a community college before transferring to the university. The themes that developed as students made meaning of their transfer experience are: (1) how their community college experience frames their interpretation of their university experience; (2) individuality and transition within the context of university culture; (3) navigation and negotiation of the university environment. The discussion includes recommendations to future transfer students from the transfer student voice and a description of institutional conditions that help the community college transfer student's chances of succeeding at the four-year institution. This research adds to the limited qualitative research on students' perceptions of their transfer experience, suggesting that the transfer experience is the result of a combination of efforts made by the student, community college, and the university. Transfer students will take responsibility for their education but they are looking for a foundation for their experience through understanding the university culture. Understanding how transfer students make meaning of the transfer experience at the four-year institutions helps to improve our conversations with transfer students and direct efforts to enhance academic integration, validation, and student success.

The Process of Transition for Community College Transfer Students

The Process of Transition for Community College Transfer Students PDF Author: Catherine Therese Flaga
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Community college students
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description


Journal of the First-year Experience & Students in Transition

Journal of the First-year Experience & Students in Transition PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : College freshmen
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description


Transfer Students: Trends and Issues

Transfer Students: Trends and Issues PDF Author: Frankie Santos Laanan
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
The summer 2001 issue of New Directions for Community Colleges evaluates recent research and policy discussions about transfer students and addresses the critical issues facing students moving through the educational pipeline. Chapters include: (1) "Transfer Student Adjustment" (Frankie Santos Laanan); (2) "Institutional Responses to Barriers to the Transfer Process" (Eboni M. Zamani); (3) "Honors Programs: A Case Study of Transfer Preparation" (Herald R. Kane); (4) "Toward a More Perfect Union: Reflecting on Trends and Issues for Enhancing the Academic Performance of Minority Transfer Students" (Wynetta Y. Lee); (5) "Student Transfer Between Oregon Community Colleges and Oregon University System Institutions" (James C. Arnold); (6) "Studying Transfer Students: Designs and Methodological Challenges" (Carol A. Kozeracki); (7) "Transfer Readiness: A Case Study of Former Santa Monica College Students" (Brenda Johnson-Benson, Peter B. Geltner, and Steven K. Steinberg); (8) "Making the Transition to the Senior Institution" (Latrice E. Eggleston and Frankie Santos Laanan); and (9) "Leadership Perspectives on Preparing Transfer Students" (Phoebe K. Helm and Arthur M. Cohen). (EMH).

Community College and Beyond

Community College and Beyond PDF Author: José R. Del Real Viramontes
Publisher: IAP
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
As the transfer disparity persists among Latina/o/x community college students and continues to widen for those seeking to complete their baccalaureate degree, we asked ourselves three questions: (1) How do Latina/o/x community college students navigate the transfer preparation and decision-making process? (2) Once at the university, how do Latina/o/x transfer students negotiate their identities and lived experiences as they persist towards graduation and beyond? And (3) What policies, practices, and programs at both two-and four-year institutions facilitate access, persistence, and completion for Latina/o/x community college/transfer students? These reflections prompted us to seek answers. This is the first edited book to provide much needed theoretical and empirical insights on Latina/o/x students who enter postsecondary education through the community college. Our book offers a comprehensive outlook on the pre- and post-transfer experiences of Latina/o/x students written by scholars and scholarpractitioners working in the field of higher education. In addition, we include specific sections that speak directly to policies, practices, and theory that address transfer pathways for Latina/o/x community college and transfer students.

Building Transfer Student Pathways for College and Career Success

Building Transfer Student Pathways for College and Career Success PDF Author: Sonya Joseph
Publisher: The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience
ISBN: 1942072260
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 190

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Book Description
Published in partnership with the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students. Analysis of bachelor’s degree completion suggests that only about a third of college graduates attend a single institution from start to finish. More than one quarter earn college credits from three or more schools before completing a degree. For most, these student-defined pathways lead to increased time-to-degree and higher costs. Many will simply drop out long before crossing the finish line. Ensuring college completion and success requires an understanding of the evolving nature of transfer transitions and a system-wide approach that reaches beyond two-year and four-year institutions to include high schools participating in dual enrollment programs and military college initiatives. A new edited collection offers insight into institutional and statewide partnerships that create clearly defined pathways to college graduation and career success for all students.

Transfer Students: Trends and Issues

Transfer Students: Trends and Issues PDF Author: Frankie Santos Laanan
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9780787957797
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 110

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Book Description
The summer 2001 issue of New Directions for Community Colleges evaluates recent research and policy discussions about transfer students and addresses the critical issues facing students moving through the educational pipeline. Chapters include: (1) "Transfer Student Adjustment" (Frankie Santos Laanan); (2) "Institutional Responses to Barriers to the Transfer Process" (Eboni M. Zamani); (3) "Honors Programs: A Case Study of Transfer Preparation" (Herald R. Kane); (4) "Toward a More Perfect Union: Reflecting on Trends and Issues for Enhancing the Academic Performance of Minority Transfer Students" (Wynetta Y. Lee); (5) "Student Transfer Between Oregon Community Colleges and Oregon University System Institutions" (James C. Arnold); (6) "Studying Transfer Students: Designs and Methodological Challenges" (Carol A. Kozeracki); (7) "Transfer Readiness: A Case Study of Former Santa Monica College Students" (Brenda Johnson-Benson, Peter B. Geltner, and Steven K. Steinberg); (8) "Making the Transition to the Senior Institution" (Latrice E. Eggleston and Frankie Santos Laanan); and (9) "Leadership Perspectives on Preparing Transfer Students" (Phoebe K. Helm and Arthur M. Cohen). (EMH)

The Experience of Community College Transfer Students in the Process of Attaining a Bachelor's Degree at a Regional Public University

The Experience of Community College Transfer Students in the Process of Attaining a Bachelor's Degree at a Regional Public University PDF Author: Michael Lance Gilliland
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic dissertations
Languages : en
Pages : 147

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Book Description
Students who transfer from a community college to a four-year university have a singular path to travel. Researchers have studied this population for several decades. This research dissertation has built on the findings of these pioneers in the field of transfer student persistence. As a result of this study, two additional pieces of the transfer process have fallen into place. Transfer students are motivated by negative experiences as well as positive experiences. Transfer students who persist to graduation possess the capacity to make crucial adjustments which enable them to overcome numerous obstacles which stand in their way.

Community College Transfer Student Involvement Experiences at a Selective, Private Four-year University

Community College Transfer Student Involvement Experiences at a Selective, Private Four-year University PDF Author: Carolina Castillo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Community colleges
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
This dissertation tested the constructs of academic and social involvement and adjustment on grades as a pathway to explain community college transfer student experiences beyond the concept of transfer shock. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on Latina(o) community college transfer student experiences with the application of conventional theories of student involvement at a traditional, highly diverse institution. The presence of transfer shock was examined as well as the degree to which the community college transfer student involvement model helped to explain student persistence, as defined by GPA. It was hypothesized that Latina(o) student involvement in social and academic activities would positively contribute to persistence. Factorial analysis of variance was used to test the relationship between two key variables: social and academic involvement and four independent variables: race/ethnicity, age, major, and gender. The analyses focused on seven research questions that examined the relationship between these variables and were conducted with two groups: the total sample of 517 students and a sub-sample of 75 Latina(o) students. The results of the study confirmed that the community college transfer student involvement pathway worked for the large sample. However, the pathway was not a good fit for explaining Latina(o) student involvement experiences. The student engagement construct is reviewed as a better fit for studying underrepresented transfer students' higher education experiences. Limitations of the study are discussed including implications for practice and recommendations for future research.