Transfer Velocity Project Key Findings on Student Transfer in California Community Colleges

Transcription

1 Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings n Student Transfer in Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges Which factrs prmte student transfer frm Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges (CCC) t baccalaureate granting institutins? What cmmunity cllege practices supprt this transitin? What student behavirs and characteristics particularly impact their mvement t fur year clleges and universities? The RP Grup investigated these questins thrugh the Transfer Velcity Prject (TVP) the mst cmprehensive study f cmmunity cllege transfer implemented t date. The RP Grup cnducted the Transfer Velcity Prject between 2007 and 2009 with funding frm and in partnership with the Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges Chancellr s Office. Cal PASS prvided additinal research assistance. With CCCs serving as the primary pint f access t pstsecndary educatin and several reprts predicting a debilitating shrtage f baccalaureate trained wrkers cnfrnting the state, understanding and imprving the cmmunity cllege transfer functin is increasingly a pririty fr higher educatin plicy makers, advcates, researchers and practitiners alike. What is the RP Grup? The Research & Planning Grup fr Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges (RP Grup) is a nnprfit, nn partisan rganizatin prviding research, evaluatin and prfessinal develpment services t individual practitiners, clleges and statewide initiatives. The RP Grup seeks t build a cmmunity cllege culture that views planning, evidencebased decisin making and institutinal effectiveness as key strategies fr student success. With prjects pwered by teams f cmmunity cllege faculty, administratrs, institutinal researchers and student services prfessinals, ur wrk benefits frm an insider s perspective and direct system access. As a result, RP has helped t shape issues such as statewide accuntability reprting, lcal and statewide strategies fr under prepared students and implementatin f student learning utcmes. The fllwing research brief (1) intrduces the prject s primary cmpnents, (2) highlights key findings n institutinal factrs, student behavirs and characteristics affecting transfer and (3) aims t infrm strategies and appraches designed t imprve this transitin fr Califrnia Cmmunity Cllege students. What is the Transfer Velcity Prject (TVP)? This prject invlved a large scale investigatin f student transfer in Califrnia Cmmunity Clleges including bth quantitative and qualitative cmpnents. An RP Grup team cmpsed f institutinal researchers, administratrs, cunselrs and articulatin staff frm cmmunity clleges acrss the state cnducted the study. The RP Grup cllabrated clsely with the CCC State Chancellr s Office t define and generate data n the transfer chrts and clleges cnsidered in this research. Three majr effrts make up the study.

2 Literature Review. The RP Grup launched the TVP with an extensive review f the research and analysis available n transfer issues and practices spanning ver 100 references. This review fcused n identifying strategies and appraches t enhance student success in transitining frm cmmunity clleges t fur year institutins. Ultimately, this literature assessment served as a guide fr develping the research questins and design pursued thrugh bth the prject s quantitative and qualitative cmpnents. Case Studies f Clleges with Higher than Expected Transfer Rates. Using data n transfer chrts generated in partnership with the State Chancellr s Office, the RP Grup identified seven CCCs with higher than expected transfer rates representing diverse gegraphy, size and enrllment prfiles. The TVP then perfrmed tw day site visits, cnducting fcus grups and interviews with a brad range f stakehlders including administratrs, faculty, student services prfessinals, transfer center directrs and students. In this prtin f the TVP investigatin, the RP Grup perfrmed 108 interviews and 33 fcus grups and ultimately determined six key transferprmting factrs present at all seven clleges visited. This part f the TVP resulted in a tl fr clleges t assess their apprach t prmting transfer and determine pprtunities fr grwth and imprvement. Transfer Predictrs Investigatin. The RP Grup further identified institutin level factrs as well as student characteristics and behavirs that prmte transfer thrugh an extensive quantitative analysis based n a variety f data surces. Wrking with the State Chancellr s Office, the RP Grup develped SQL Orange a data warehuse that mirrrs the CCC s Management Infrmatin System (MIS) and allws fr innvative and explratry research n behalf f individual institutins and statewide initiatives. The prject als utilized curse fferings data frm the state s MIS system and archived respnses frm annual surveys f CCC Transfer Centers perfrmed by the State Chancellr s Office t determine institutinal factrs facilitating transfer. T identify student behavirs and characteristics impacting this transitin, the TVP analyzed data frm the transfer chrt starting in , fllwing nearly 150,000 students fr nine years. Key Terms & Definitins Transfer Chrt. Based n the definitin used by the State Chancellr s Office, the TVP tracked chrts f students wh met the fllwing benchmarks ver a six year perid: Started as first time freshmen Cmpleted 12 units Attempted a transfer level math r English curse The TVP investigated three chrts, the last f which began their enrllment in The prject fllwed all chrts thrugh Transfer Rates. T determine transfer rates, the TVP identified any student frm the transfer chrt shwing an enrllment recrd at a furyear institutin within a given perid f time and then divided that number by all students in the riginal transfer chrt. The TVP lked at different time perids in which each chrt culd transfer ranging frm three t twelve years. Clleges with Higher than Expected Transfer Rates. Observing the three transfer chrts discussed abve, the TVP identified clleges exhibiting higher than expected transfer rates acrss the time perid studied when cntrlling fr the age f student bdy and the baccalaureate attainment f the surrunding area. Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 2

3 Reader s Guide The fllwing sectins fcus n transfer predictrs and facilitatrs identified thrugh the Transfer Velcity Prject. The first sectin utlines institutinal factrs that enhance transfer success as discvered thrugh the study s quantitative and qualitative investigatin. The secnd sectin describes specific student behavirs and characteristics that imprve r impede transfer as discvered in the quantitative analysis. Given the scpe f the Transfer Velcity Prject and the wealth f data available t this study thrugh bth the State Chancellr s Office and individual clleges acrss the CCC system, the RP Grup has generated numerus findings n transfer facilitatrs and inhibitrs and surfaced additinal research questins pertinent t imprving transfer success in the state. These sectins fcus n the mst significant and prvcative f the findings. The dcument cncludes with a brief discussin f pssible areas fr further research and a descriptin f the RP Grup s Career and Technical Educatin Transfer Research Prject a related initiative lking at specific transfer issues fr students in career riented disciplines. What key factrs facilitate CCC student transfer success? Institutinal Factrs Bth the qualitative and quantitative cmpnents f the TVP surfaced multiple key institutinal factrs that can supprt CCC student transfer. The seven case studies n clleges with higher than expected transfer rates distinguished six transfer prmting factrs that send ne clear message: transfer rates increase when there are institutin wide effrts designed t supprt all students in pursuing transfer gals. TVP research indicates that CCCs cncurrently implementing a culture f transfer acrss the institutin, integrating instructinal and student supprt divisins and partnering clsely with high schls and fur year clleges and universities may experience enhanced transfer success. Outlined belw are the six institutinal factrs that supprt transfer identified thrugh the case studies. 1 Rbust Transfer Culture. Clleges exhibiting a transfer culture implement a variety f actins and activities acrss the institutin t supprt students in pursuing this gal. Cllege administratrs, instructrs, cunselrs, student services and supprt staff and peer mentring grups all wrk t prmte transfer rather than just thse assigned t prvide related services. Students frequently receive the message frm multiple surces that transfer is a viable ptin and resurces are Fr mre infrmatin n the clleges investigated by the TVP, including individual case studies and a crss case analysis, visit: available t assist in explring, preparing fr and undertaking this transitin. One example f transfer culture fund acrss nearly all institutins is making transfer a strng theme in Student Success curses. Fr example, Skyline Cllege ffers a Transfer Pwer curse designed t aid students in researching and selecting a transfer destinatin that meets their particular needs and interests. 1 The TVP acknwledges that the clleges studied implement these factrs t varying degrees and that readers shuld nt use these findings as a prescriptin fr transfer success; rather these factrs can help CCCs assess their wn transfer effrts. Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 3

4 Taking a different angle, the TVP quantitative analysis cnfirmed the relevance f a transfer culture by bserving the relatinship between the number f transferable curse sectins available at a CCC and its transfer rates. Perhaps nt surprisingly, the percentage f all curses ffered that are transferable psitively crrelates with transfer rate by prviding a relatively large number f transferable curses, clleges exhibit a cmmitment t supprting students in their transfer preparatin. Student Fcused Envirnment. Clleges demnstrating a student fcused envirnment meet learners at their current level f academic achievement and persnal develpment and implement prgrams, services and appraches designed t mve them tward their transfer gal. One strng indicatr f this factr, shwn by mst clleges studied, includes the integratin f student services with instructin either thrugh infrmal interactins r highly frmalized agreements. Fr instance, DeAnza Cllege maintains divisin based retentin teams invlving bth instructinal and cunseling staff t prvide a cmprehensive apprach t student service delivery. Intense Cmmitment t the Institutin. Thse wrking at the institutins investigated express a high level f pride in and dedicatin t their cllege thrugh fcus grups and interviews. At these clleges, faculty and staff frequently define their rle in terms f what they d t prmte student success rather than simply by their specific jb descriptin. In sme cases, this pride and dedicatin translates t lw faculty and staff turn ver and the attractin and retentin f what interviewees describe as highly talented and cmmitted individuals. Strategic High Schl Relatinships. Nearly all institutins investigated in the TVP case studies help students make the transitin frm high schl t cllege. These relatinships span a range f activities targeting high schl students, families, teachers and cunselrs. Appraches include direct utreach t secndary students and their families with a particular fcus n under represented grups, prvisin f matriculatin services n site at the high schl, implementatin f cncurrent enrllment pprtunities and regular interactin with high schl guidance staff. In ne example, Suthwest Ls Angeles Cllege wrks thrugh its Talent Search prgram t utreach t lw incme, first generatin students at lcal high schls and bring participants t campus t use Transfer Center resurces. Strng Relatinships with Fur Year Institutins. Cmmunity clleges with higher than expected transfer rates regularly engage students in interactins with baccalaureate granting institutins. Almst all clleges studied facilitate a regular presence f representatives frm fur year institutins n their campus. Mst sites cnduct turs t near by clleges and universities, hst transfer days and wrk t familiarize students with a range f transfer ptins, bth private and public. Fr example, San Dieg City Cllege regularly hsts five private clleges at its Transfer Center and ntes that relatinships with private clleges gained mre emphasis when data shwed that 40% f its transfer students g t ut fstate and/r private fur year institutins. The TVP quantitative investigatin crrbrated the pertinence f strng relatinships with fur year institutins thrugh an analysis f annual Transfer Center Survey data that identify the number f transfer articulatin agreements in place between an individual cmmunity cllege and Califrnia State University (CSU) and University f Califrnia (UC) institutins. As the number f agreements in place increases, s des the cllege s transfer rate; the number f transfer agreements in place with CSUs shw a particularly strng relatinship with transfer rates. Effective Use f Supprt Services. While all clleges maintain an articulatin functin, prvide sme frm f transfer guidance, supply financial aid, ffer special prgrams like EOPS, learning cmmunities Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 4

5 and hnrs initiatives, the clleges investigated thrugh the TVP leverage these structures and services in unusual and effective ways t supprt transfer. T highlight a few examples, Irvine Valley Cllege s Articulatin Officer serves n the Curriculum Cmmittee and meets regularly with faculty, ensuring they have current transfer agreement infrmatin t supply t students. Prterville Cllege dispatches an utreach team t lcal high schls t prvide financial aid advice and assistance. DeAnza Cllege s Transfer Center engages underrepresented students wh are well n their way t transfer as peer advisrs. The TVP quantitative research als fund that cmmunity clleges maintaining an adequately staffed transfer center shw increased transfer success. An analysis f data derived frm annual Transfer Center Surveys n staffing patterns indicates thse clleges with a full time Transfer Center Directr tend t have higher rates f transfer. Significant Student Swirl. One additinal factr surfaced thrugh the TVP quantitative research fcuses n the phenmenn f student swirl r lateral transfer, where students enrll in multiple cmmunity clleges. The level f cllege swirl, as indicated by the average number f clleges attended by the student bdy, is psitively assciated with transfer. Transfer rates tend t be higher fr clleges whse student bdies have a larger average number f clleges attended. Student Behavirs and Characteristics The TVP identified several transfer predictrs fr students 70% 60% thrugh its quantitative analysis f nearly 150,000 students assigned t 50% 40% Asian the % White transfer chrt Black representing abut a 20% Year after initial enrllment quarter f all first time Latin 10% freshmen fr that academic year. Sme f the TVP findings replicate existing research n student Transfer rates by year fr fur ethnic grups transfer predictrs, while ther TVP discveries extend this bdy f knwledge and increase what is knwn abut the transfer functin in Califrnia. As in the previus sectin, a select number f ntewrthy findings are presented belw. The discveries are gruped in eight categries belw. Demgraphic Characteristics three fur five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve Age Age is negatively assciated with transfer; thse wh are 10, 20 and 30 years lder than traditinal age (<25 years ld) are 40%, 80% and 120% less likely t transfer, respectively. Average student age was 20 years ld at chrt entry. Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 5

6 Ethnicity Asian students have the greatest transfer velcity. Of thse Asian students wh transfer within 12 years, 92% did s by year six; in cntrast, f all African American, Latin and Native American students wh transferred within 12 years, apprximately 25% made this transitin after year six. Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Latins and Native Americans in the transfer chrt were 21%, 22%, 31% and 41% less likely t transfer than Asians, respectively. Anther way f prtraying this gap is t cmpare transfer rates within nine years. The Asian transfer rate is 64% cmpared with Latins wh transfer at a rate f 39%. This finding is particularly relevant given the demgraphic shift in the state, where Latins cmprise a greater prtin f the ppulatin. The chrt includes 14% Asians, 6% African Americans, and 24% Latins. Educatinal Gals Gal f transfer TVP analysis shws that declaratin f a transfer gal bsts students transfer dds by almst 25%. While students ften express multiple gals thrughut their CCC attendance, the data indicate that stating the gal f transfer at least nce during ne s cmmunity cllege academic career reliably and psitively crrelates with student behavir and utcmes. Nearly 75% f the transfer chrt indicated a transfer gal at sme pint during their CCC enrllment. Academic Perfrmance Grade Pint Average (GPA) Students academic perfrmance directly affects transfer achievement; a straight A student is 43% mre likely t transfer than a student maintaining a B average, and 86% mre likely t transfer than a student maintaining a C average. The average GPA was Curse Withdrawals ( W Grades) Withdrawing frm a class, r leaving the curse mid semester and receiving a W grade, negatively impacts transfer success. Students whse transcripts shw 20% r mre f enrllments resulting in a curse withdrawal are 39% less likely t transfer than students with fewer W grades. Frty six percent f the chrt had 20% r mre W grades. GPA and W Grade Tensin Students wh leave a curse early receive a W grade but thse wh stay withut ever demnstrating understanding f the curriculum may receive a failing r F grade ptentially lwering their GPA. The negative impacts that lwer GPA and higher curse withdrawals have n transfer makes advising students in this situatin challenging. While neither utcme is desirable, a W grade allws students additinal pprtunities t retake the curse withut a significant negative impact n their GPA. Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 6

7 Enrllment Patterns Student Swirl Data indicate that attending mre than ne cmmunity cllege may increase a student s transfer success. Thse wh swirl r take curses at mre than ne cmmunity cllege increase their dds f transferring t a baccalaureate granting institutin by 15%. Students in this situatin may expedite their transfer prcess by picking up classes unavailable at their primary institutin and/r may parlay the effrt f enrlling in multiple institutins int increased capacity t navigate the paperwrk and bureaucracy assciated with transfer. Apprximately 40% f the transfer chrt students enrll at mre than ne cmmunity cllege. Summer Enrllment Students wh attend at least ne summer sessin within their first three years f enrllment als imprve their transfer dds by 47% relative t thse wh d nt. This finding crrelates with engagement thery, which predicts that increased student cntact with schl activities enhances learners cmmitment t cllege and psitively impacts achievement and degree attainment. Sixty nine percent f the transfer chrt attended summer sessin within three years f initial enrllment. Curse Taking Patterns Math Initial math placement significantly impacts students transfer success. Thse wh start in basic skills math are 48% less likely t transfer than thse wh start in cllege level math cursewrk. Twenty three percent f the transfer chrt began in basic skills math. English While nt as prnunced as math, starting in basic skills English als affects students transfer achievement. These learners are 12% less likely t mve t a fur year institutin than thse wh begin at a transfer level English curse. Sixteen percent f the transfer chrt began in basic skills English. Degree and Certificate Attainment Assciate s Degree Cmpletin Attainment f an assciate s degree shws a strng psitive impact n students likelihd fr transfer, with the perid f time in which they reach this achievement being significant t their transfer dds. Thse students wh cmplete their degree within three years f their first enrllment are mre than twice as likely t transfer than thse wh d nt receive an Assciate s degree. Even thse wh reach this benchmark in years fur thrugh six are 45% mre likely than learners wh did nt. Nine percent f the chrt attained an AA within 3 years. Certificate Achievement On the ther hand, students btaining a certificate are 43% less likely t transfer than students wh did nt. Six percent f the transfer chrt attained a certificate. Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 7

8 Financial Aid & Special Prgram Participatin Lans Receipt f a student lan increases students transfer dds by almst 17%. Fur percent f the transfer chrt received student lans. Areas fr Future Research Initial investigatin reveals that the impact f financial aid and special prgram participatin n student transfer success are best examined in cmbinatin. Preliminary data analysis indicates cmplex interactin between financial aid, membership in special prgrams and student ethnicity. The TVP plans further examinatin f the impact f participatin in special prgrams such as Equal Opprtunity Prgrams and Services (EOPS), Disabled Students Prgrams and Services (DSPS) and CalWrks. Where d we g frm here? Thrugh the Transfer Velcity Prject, the RP Grup has generated an array f additinal questins abut hw t best accelerate transfer fr Califrnia Cmmunity Cllege students. The rganizatin aims t leverage its extensive access t a range f CCC student data and the nvel take n the time perid in which t examine transfer success (e.g. lengthening the windw fr transfer beynd the traditinal six year perid) t investigate additinal aspects f transfer facilitatin. In particular, the RP Grup will seek t learn mre abut hw the achievement f an assciate s degree impacts transfer fr different subgrups, uncver the relatinship between financial aid and special prgram participatin and better understand what particular factrs might increase the transfer velcity f ur grwing ppulatin f Latin students. Additinally, the RP Grup is currently implementing the Career and Technical Educatin (CTE) Transfer Research Prject, a multi year study f the factrs that facilitate and impede students transfer in career riented disciplines. Funding frm the State Chancellr s Office launched Phase I f this investigatin, cnducted between Fall 2007 and Summer The research cntinues int a secnd stage with additinal supprt frm the James Irvine Fundatin; Phase II f the prject will cnclude in Fall Current research activities fcus n the experience f students wh successfully transferred in key career related prgrams including 1) mapping what kinds f curses they tk while enrlled in a cmmunity cllege and 2) identifying why they made these curse and enrllment chices prir t this transitin. Fr further infrmatin Fr reprts and presentatins generated by the Transfer Velcity Prject, visit: Fr infrmatin n the TVP: Craig Hayward, Ph.D., Senir Researcher, the RP Grup / Directr f Planning, Research & Knwledge Systems, Cabrill Cllege chayward@rpgrup.rg Fr mre infrmatin n the RP Grup: Kathy Bth, Executive Directr kbth@rpgrup.rg Transfer Velcity Prject Key Findings The RP Grup January page 8