A Transfer Student’s Access to a Four-Year Public College/University—Has the

Landscape Changed?

Bill Kraus

Associate Vice President Enrollment Management

The University of Akron

Professional Experience—Variety of Experiences and Perspectives

Daemen College, Amherst NY (1982-87)

Cayuga Community College, Auburn NY (1987-1988)

Lakeland Community College, Mentor OH (1988-2000)

Buffalo State College, Buffalo NY (2000-2005)

The University of Akron, Akron OH (2005-present)

Enrollment Planning Process—The Roadmap (Fall 2006-09)

First time freshmen– First time/full time– Adult

Transfer students Returning student Graduate students Student success and retention

Transfer Student Focus

An enrollment management perspective on the behaviors of transfer students

Internal and External Review of the Current Landscape

Internal Review– University of Akron– Buffalo State College

External Transfer Environment– Competition– Trends– Affordability– Access

SUNY Campuses

Transfer Student Enrollment

The University of Akron

Total Enrollment: 23,539

Fall 2006 911

Fall 2005 828

Fall 2004 793

Fall 2003 867

Fall 2002 929

Transfer Student Enrollment

Buffalo State College

Total Enrollment: 11,129

Fall 2006 1133

Fall 2005 1081

Fall 2004 1014

Fall 2003 1011

Fall 2002 1102

Transfer Student Themes

Transfer student admissions behaviors Role of geography Transfer student success Defining competition Affordability and access

Transfer Student Application Behaviors—University of Akron

When Students Apply for the Fall Term

As of March 1 for Fall 2006- 77% of all freshmen applicants

have applied

- 32% of all transfer applicants have applied

Transfer Student Application Behaviors—University of Akron

Yield (for Fall 2006)

- 42% of all accepted freshmen enroll

- 66% of all accepted transfer

students enroll

Transfer Student Application Behaviors—SUNY

Number of Application Choices (Fall 2006)

Applicants: 12,211

Applications: 17,206

Source: SUNY APC

Role of Geography

Defining our effective recruitment range

Geography—SUNY Community Colleges (Fall 2003)

Erie Community College 588 transfer-out to SUNY colleges/universities

Buffalo State College 265University at Buffalo 231Fredonia 33Brockport 18

Source: SUNY IR

Geography—SUNY Community Colleges (Fall 2003)

Cayuga Community College 168 transfer-out to SUNY colleges

Oswego 67Cortland 16Brockport 11Buffalo State 7

Source: SUNY IR

GeographyBuffalo State College—Top Feeder InstitutionsFall 2003

Erie Community College 265Niagara Community College 100University at Buffalo (SUNY) 56Genesee Community College 16Monroe Community College 24

Nassau 5Suffolk 3

GeographyIn-State Retention Rate after Graduation (Ohio)

Cuyahoga Community College 88%Lakeland Community College 91%Lorain Community College 91%Sinclair Community College 89%

Source: OBR

GeographyUniversity of Akron—Top Feeder Institutions

Number of Students

1. Cuyahoga Community College 1272. Kent State—Main 1133. Stark State 634. Toledo 335. Ohio State 326. Lakeland Community College 297. Lorain Community College 288. Kent State—Stark 279. Bowling Green 2210. Ashland University 17

Reflects 51% of all new transfers

Transfer Student Success

Various views and perspectives– Community College (sending institution)– Four Year College (receiving institution)

Community College Student SuccessThree Years Later (Ohio)

Earned Degree Persisting at Same Persisting at Other

Community Colleges 8% 38% 10%

State Community Colleges 11% 34% 10%

Technical Colleges 21% 26% 8%

Branch Campuses 10% 44% 13%

Source: OBR

Community College Student SuccessFirst to Second Year Persistence by Institution Type (Ohio)

Same Any

Statewide 68% 77%

Community Colleges 56% 61%

Main Campuses 75% 85%

Main Campuses with Open Admissions 65% 75%

Source: OBR

Community College Student SuccessFirst to Second Year Persistence at any Ohio Institution—Freshmen Age 19 or Younger

Completed H.S Core Did Not Complete

Statewide 87% 77%Community Colleges 77% 71%Main Campuses 90% 82%Main Campuses with Open Admissions 85% 75%

Source: OBR

Transfer Student SuccessImpact on Junior Level Status (Ohio)

Statewide Total: 38,968 % Avg. GPA

No previous credit at two year: 76% 3.045 or fewer credits earned: 14% 3.0More than 45 credits earned: 10% 2.8

University of Akron: 3,090

No previous credit at two year: 80% 3.145 or fewer credits earned: 10% 3.1More than 45 credits earned: 9% 3.0

Source: OBR

Transfer Student SuccessPersistence of First Time Students—Buffalo State College

Fall 2000 New Students% First Time Still Enrolled Fall 2001: 77%% Transfer Still Enrolled Fall 2001:80%

Transfer students had a higher persistence rate at 11 of the 13 SUNY Colleges

Source: SUNY IR

Transfer Student SuccessGraduation Rate—Frame of Reference

One state’s frame of reference:

Three-year bachelor degree graduation rate of transfer students who earned an associates degree compared with three-year bachelors degree graduation rate of native students who enrolled three years prior and were still enrolled

So Guess What?

The graduation rate of transfer students was

5 to 20 points lower

Transfer Student SuccessPersistence and Graduation Rates—Large Public University in Virginia

First-Year Persistence

First-Time Students: 79.9%

Transfer Students: 80.6%

Transfer 4-Year Graduation Rate: 62%

Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate: 50%

Defining Competition

Inputs—Feeder Institutions (new transfers) Outputs—Non-persisting students (who do

we lose our students to?)

Competition Defined by Geography

Colleges and universities within 25 miles of Cuyahoga Community College

Community Colleges: 2

Public Universities: 3

Private Colleges: 8

Stop-Out Student Analysis (NSLCH)

Attended Spring 06—Not Enrolled Fall 06

Number: 1363

Entered UA as Transfer: 272

Attending Another College: 427

Entered UA as Transfer: 130 (48%)

Top Institutions of Non-Persisting Students

1. Kent State 562. Stark State 543. Ohio State 354. Walsh University 165. Lorain County CC 166. Youngstown State 147. Cleveland State 148. Cuyahoga CC 139. Ohio University 12

Affordability and Access

The key change in the transfer student landscape

Affordability and Access

SUNY Tuition

Average Community College$3,200

SUNY College Tuition $5,300

Ohio

Average Community College $2,800

University of Akron $8,400

Pressure to Increase Quality (SUNY)

Buffalo State College Freshmen Denials

Fall 2005 1840Fall 2004 1454Fall 2003 1402

Coupled with a 50% reduction in the special admit program

Affordability—Student Debt

Ohio is ranked tenth in the nation for the average student-loan debt for students graduating from a public four-year university ($18,854)

Average credit card debt for students in the Midwest is $2,498—15% higher than the national average

Source: Nellie Mae

Affordability—Loan Default

Poor academic performance is the number one reason for student departure—and departure before degree is the number one reason for loan defaults

Extending college attendance beyond five years has a negative impact on default—even for borrowers who are successful at completing their degree

Sources: Vockwein/Cabrua

Steiner/Tezler

Lessons Learned—As more things change…

Targeted scholarships Value and respect transfer credit (currency) Relevance of agreements

– Community colleges are looking for “real” collaborations Don’t fight behaviors Don’t fight geography Relationships

– Partnerships– Key role of transfer counselors– Consistency of information and processing

Agility Seamless Transfer student support services at the four-year campus—without labels Adult differentiation may not be appropriate