Connecting Transfers: Student Affairs Services that Bridge the Gap

Brittany KinardKimone Holtzman

Cory BaileyDr. April Heiselt

Mississippi State University

SACSA ConferenceMemphis, TN

Introductions Presenters

▫Brittany Kinard

▫Kimone Holtzman

▫Cory Bailey

▫Dr. April Heiselt

Tell Us A Bit About You…

Our interest in transfer students

• We all have individual transfer experiences.

• We are advocates for community college students.

• We have witnessed transfer student issues at each of our perspective institutions.

• We believe it is important to serve and connect transfer students.

• We believe transfer students have unique needs.

?What needs have you seen with

the transfer student population?

What the research says • Transfer students bring:

▫Higher retention rates▫Diversity▫Higher overall GPA

(Alfonso, 2006; College Board, 2011; Fischbach, 2006; Gawley & McGowan, 2006;

Handel, 2011; Melguizo & Kienzl,2011; Townsend & Wilson, 2006;

Glass & Harrington, 2002)

• What transfer students need:▫Social interaction▫Community▫Academic credit guidance▫Student development▫Campus Resources(Astin, 1985; Hadley, 2011; Rhine, 2000; Tinto, 1993; Tinto, 1997; Townsend & Wilson,

2006)

What, if anything, are SACSA land-grant institutions doing to connect transfer students to campus?

Research Question:

The Study• Website review of 32 SACSA land-grant institutions

▫ Started with campus admissions site, then general site search

▫ Inter-rater reliability

• Reviewed the following information:▫ Articulation Agreements▫ Transfer Admissions Process▫ Housing ▫ Programs (student groups, transfer student events)▫ Orientation▫ Services (a transfer specific professional or office)▫ Contact Individual

• Conducted 16 follow-up phone interviews

Articulation Agreements • Any type of articulation

agreement information (State wide, institutionally based, degree or hours based)

• Access to the four year institution for community college transfer students.

• Bachelor degree may seem more obtainable to community college students (Alfonso, 2006)

Transfer Admissions• Transfer admissions

information easily accessible and understandable.

• The process is clearly defined with resources and contacts for questions.

• If information is clear, this will help transfer students ensure successful transfer.

On-Campus Housing • Housing information

easily accessible to transfer students

• Transfer specific information regarding housing

• Housing can increase student development, involvement, mentoring, social interactions, and academic success. (Astin, 1985)

Transfer Orientation• Separate orientation for transfer

students or break-out for transfer students

• Accessibility of orientation information (dates, times, registration, requirement)

• Allows students to connect to the campus prior to classes beginning.

• Allows students to connect to other transfer students

• Allows students to connect with campus professionals and seek guidance

Transfer Student Programs

• Programs are defined as any type of campus related activity that incorporates direct student involvement. (events, welcome week, extended orientation, student groups, etc.)

• Offer students opportunities to connect to the campus as well as other transfer students.

• Foster student development through involvement (Astin, 1985).

• Information regarding student programs on websites was very limited.

Transfer Student Services

• Services are defined as any university service to transfer students that does not incorporate direct student involvement. (resource guides, transfer student resource center, transfer student coordinator, classes, etc.)

• Services are a way to serve all transfer students ranging in involvement interest.

• Fosters a since of mattering for transfer students

• Information regarding transfer student services was very limited.

Phone Contacts•Looked for university contact in

Admissions Office▫Contacted each institution, 16 institutions or

46% responded

•With specific focus on:▫Transfer Student Programs▫Transfer Orientation▫Transfer Student Services▫Transfer Recruitment Fairs▫On-site Community College Recruitment

Articulation AgreementsWebsites Phone Contacts

On-Campus HousingWebsite Phone Contacts

What are the implications of this data?

Transfer Student OrientationWebsites Phone Contacts

Transfer Student Program Information From Phone Contacts

Types of Transfer Student Programs• 46% Student Groups • 30% Extended Orientations• 23% Events• 15% Unidentified*Some institutions utilize multiple types

Transfer Student ProgramsWebsites Phone Contacts

What are the implications of this data?

Transfer Student Services

Types of Transfer Student Services• 33% Transfer or Resource Guides• 22% First-year seminar/classes for transfer

students• 11% Information Sessions

Transfer Student ServicesWebsites Phone Contacts

What are the implications of this data?

Transfer Student Recruitment

Why is transfer student recruitment important?• Personal Connection on campus

• Opportunity to ask questions in person• Increase enrollment of transfer students• Establishes relationships and fosters mattering

(Rhine, 2000)

Results•Not all websites are understandable

•There’s not enough specification for transfer students (admissions, financial aid, etc.)

•Minimal ratio of transfer students to Student Affairs practitioners

•More transfer student programming information

Implications •Each Student Affairs Office needs to

consider transfer students▫Admissions

Are there transfer packets available? Is articulation agreement information well-

known and easily accessible? Is there a transfer orientation specifically for

transfer students?▫Housing

Is housing available to transfer students? Are there communities available to connect

transfer students? Are transfer students being engaged in living-

learning communities?

Implications•Each Student Affairs Office needs to

consider transfer students (cont’d.)▫Student Programs/Activities

Are there specific transfer student programs that are designed to engage and connect transfer students?

Are there student groups, events, or programs that foster transfer student development?

▫Student Services Are there services designed to serve transfer

students? Are the students aware that these services

are available?

Implications• Clarity on campus websites

▫Types of programming Transfer specific Mission/Purpose Statement Information about how to get involved

▫Housing Information regarding transfer students Advocate for transfer student housing

▫Application requirements Clear application process Transfer student check-list

▫Resources Personal contact Transfer credit guide

Limitations• Prior research data pertained mainly to

community college transfer students• Focus on public land-grant institutions

▫Community colleges have “different” transfer students

• Follow-up was not as effective as hoped▫Electronic message scavenger hunt▫Phone calls were not returned

• Research highlighted additional transfer student needs▫Financial Aid, Dining, Recreation, etc.

DiscussionWhat are you doing on your campus to benefit transfer students?

What are other ways to meet the needs of transfer students that were not mentioned today?

Questions?

Contact InformationBrittany Kinard

bk146@msstate.edu

Kimone Holtzmankah507@msstate.edu

Cory Baileyceb179@msstate.edu

April Heiseltaheiselt@colled.msstate.edu

ReferencesAlfonso, M. (2006). The impact of community college attendance on baccalaureate

attainment. research in higher education, 47(8), 873-903. Atin, A. W. (1985). Achieving educational excellence. San Francisco: Jossey-BassBrazzell, J.C., & Reisser, L. (1999). Creating inclusive communities. In G.S. Blimling, &

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References, Cont’d.Handel, S. J., & College, B. (2011). Improving student transfer from community

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Pascarella, E.T., & Terenzini, P.T. (2005). How college affects students (Vol. 2). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Rhine, T. J., Milligan, D. M., & Nelson, L. R. (2000). Alleviating transfer shock: Creating an environment for more successful transfer students. Community College Journal Of Research And Practice, 24(6), 443-453.

Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). University of College Press.

Tinto, V. (1997). Classrooms as communities: Exploring the educational character of student persistence. Journal of Higher Education, 68, 599-623.

Townsend, B.K., & Wilson, K.B. (2006). A hand hold for a little bit: Factors facilitating the success of community college transfer students to a large research university: Journal of College Student Development, 47(4). The Johns Hopkins University Press. DOI: 10.1353/csd.2006.0052