Examining pathways to the degree: what leads to student success? Kathi A. Ketcheson Ph.D. Portland...

Examining pathways to the degree: what leads to student success?

Kathi A. Ketcheson Ph.D.Portland State University

EAIR ConferenceAugust 2008

The Urban Transfer Research NetworkEAIR 2008

Funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education, the project is…

A collaborative multi-institutional research project focused on low-income and minority students beginning their postsecondary careers at community colleges with the goal of attaining at least the Bachelor’s degree.


The purpose of the research is to chart the pathways and success of the target student populations and inform institutional policy and practice as it affects student transfer success.The goal of the project is to increase the community college transfer rate and success rate of students attaining the Bachelor’s degree. By the end of the project, the number of urban regions involved will be expanded so as to eventually impact national Bachelor’s degree attainment rates by low-income and minority students.


Participating InstitutionsPortland State University

Mt. Hood Community College

Portland Community College

Clackamas Community College

Chemeketa Community College

Arizona State University

Maricopa Community Colleges

University of South Florida (affiliated partner)

Hillsborough Community College

St. Petersburg College


Transfer and Degree Attainment

Over one-half of students entering higher education in the U.S. begin at community colleges.

Transfer students have lower degree attainment rates than those who begin at university.

Attainment rates are lower for underrepresented and minority groups.

Pathways to the degree are many and varied, no “one size fits all.”


Major Issues in Oregon

State funding for higher education continues to decline.Enrollments have increased dramatically in recent years.Existing agreements between two and four year institutions have worked well, but need refinement.Policies and practices vary by institution and make common processes difficult to implement.Information on first-generation and low-income status not collected consistently or in common formats.

.


Research Design and DataAnalysis of community college student cohorts' pathways and success in attaining the Bachelor's degree. This research includes subgroup analysis specific to underrepresented students.

Analysis of policy and practice through qualitative research including interviews and focus groups with students, faculty and staff.


Research Design

STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS

RaceGenderSocio-Economic StatusFirst-Generation in College*

OUTCOMES

CC PerformancePersistenceAcademic PerformanceDegree attainment

TransferPSUOther 4-year Institution

4-year Institution PerformancePersistenceAcademic PerformanceBachelor’s attainment

MEDIATING FACTORS

Enrollment Patterns e.g.SwirlingLinearInterruption

Institutional Policies e.g.Financial AidResidencyCo-admissionEtc.

* Data is not currently available to track students based on first-generation status.


Data File CreationDescription Unit-record data for about 20,000 students. Demographic, academic, and enrollment data at CC and PSU

(supplemented by NSC data).

Facilitators History of collaboration with CCs. All Oregon CCs produce common data elements for state-

level reports.

Challenges No common student identifiers among institutions. Low Income/First Generation status problematic.


MHCC PCC

1999

2000

n = 2,558

n = 2,360

n = 4,330

n = 4,404

Students enrolled in credit-bearing courses for the first time during summer or fall of 1999 or 2000 who attended for more than one term or expressed intent to transfer or were under 20 years old.Excludes students with attendance at any college or university prior to enrollment at the CC.Excludes students who earned an associate or bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment at the CC.Excludes students who attended one term but earned no credit at the CC.

Term by term enrollment at MHCC, PCC and Chemeketa CC tracked for six years

EnrollmentCreditsGPA

Fin. Aid


Fin. Aid


Fin. Aid

Associate Degree

Attainment


Fin. Aid


Fin. Aid


Fin. Aid

Term by term PSU enrollment tracked through Spring 2006

Bachelor’s Degree

Attainment

Other Enrollment

Other Associate or Bachelor’s

Degree Attainment

National Student Clearinghouse data tracked through Spring 2006

Total N = 18,957

Chemeketa

n = 2,570

n = 2,735


Swirl Patterns

Linear: Student begins at one community college, transfers to PSU, and does not attend any other institution afterwards.Structured Swirl: Student moves among community colleges, or between CCs and PSU, but once enrolled at PSU, does not attend any other institution. Complex Swirl: Student moves in a complex pattern among 2 and 4 year institutions in the metro area.


Swirl Patterns for Degree CompletersEnrollment Patterns for Bachelor's

Earners by Major

60.0% 68.6% 75.6%46.3% 35.0%

68.8% 50.0%34.1%26.4% 28.0% 24.4% 21.8%

15.0%19.5%2.6%5.8%4.7%

12.0%

0%20%40%60%80%

Bus

ines

s

Fin

e A

rts

Soc

ial

Sci

ence

Art

s an

dLe

tters

Sci

ence

Eng

inee

ring

N=480, nB=128, nFA=25, nSS=172, nAL=78, nSc=41, nECS=20

Linear

Structured-Sw irl

Sw irl-complex


Data Analysis Summary

Contribution of “swirling” to degree completion depends on type of swirling and degree or discipline.Patterns and completion rates differ by ethnicity and age.Attainment of 2-year associates degree facilitates transfer, but not necessarily baccalaureate completion.


Which factors predict transfer and bachelor’s attainment?

Total Terms CC

Transfer (1 = Transferred

to PSU 0 = No Transfer)

% FT CC

Total Credits CC

Credits/Term CC

Bachelor’s Degree(1 = PSU Degree

0 = No PSU Degree)Transfer/Other Degree

Enroll Pattern

Term of Transfer Note: Covariates include age, gender, need-based aid


Policy/Data ConnectionsStage Policy/Factor Data Elements Notes

Readiness Financial Affordability

Perception of Affordability

Not currently available

Academic Preparedness

Placement test scores Test score Are these available for the 1999 and 2000 cohorts?

Placement indicator Math/Reading/Writing needed

Currently have data for those who took the test during Summer or Fall 1999 or 2000. If a student took the placement test during another term, that data is not reflected here yet, but can be provided.

Course taking behavior Remedial course taken – term taken, grade earned

Not in the database currently, but can be provided by CCs


Recommendation: Communication & Information *Early *Often *Accurate

Institutions should…Help students connect and learn more about transfer process early, when beginning at community college, and after transfer to the university.

Require attendance at student orientation.

Provide college success courses.

Provide advising throughout.


Three Models for Data Sharing on TransferUrban Transfer Research Network Participants

Decentralized Centralized

Oregon Arizona Florida

Community colleges and universities

access a common

data warehouse, established by the state legislature

Somewhat centralized

Community colleges and

universities submit files to higher

education system but data are not combined into

common data base for use beyond

standard reporting and analysis at

system level

Community colleges and universities

access a common

data warehouse, established by the state legislature


Data Base Issues

Florida data base supports legislative decisions, but is more difficult for institutions or researchers to use. Unit record data cannot be obtained to track student pathways to the degree.

Arizona’s data base was created in response to multiple needs, is located on a 4-year campus, and is easily accessible to institutions or researchers.


Data Base Issues--OregonCreation of data base for UTRN was time-consuming, but helped foster inter-institutional cooperation and shared understanding of the issues.

Oregon university system is proposing a statewide data warehouse similar to Arizona’s.


Further analysis of enrollment pattern characteristics

Addition of course-taking data

Tracking BA earners backward to CCs

Analysis of administrator/faculty/staff interviews

Student interviews in 2008-2009 academic year

Development of recommendations relevant to local, statewide, and national areas.

Next Steps


http://www.pdx.edu/utrn/research.html

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