Summary of Survey Results of Community College Transfer Programs by the Council of Independent Colleges

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1 February 10, 2012 Summary of Survey Results of Community College Transfer Programs by the Council of Independent Colleges In November 2011, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) conducted a survey of its member institutions to learn more about their relations with community colleges and transfer students. Responses were received from 218 institutions in 45 states, a sample that represents 36 percent of the membership. All but one institution reported that there are community colleges within driving distance. Given that about one-third of smaller private colleges are located in rural locations, this finding suggests that independent colleges and universities are highly likely to encourage transfer students if there are community colleges in their vicinity. The non-rural colleges, of course, frequently work with nearby community colleges. Well over three-quarters of the responding institutions report formal articulation agreements with community colleges in their region, and some have agreements with up to 117 community colleges, including those beyond state borders. Of the institutions with formal articulation agreements, 25 participate in a statewide transfer system with all community colleges and state universities. Interestingly, about half of the institutions have transfer agreements for bachelor s degree programs in particular fields as well as for general education or core curriculum requirements. It is clear that the responding institutions welcome and even strongly encourage community college transfer students to enroll in their baccalaureate degree programs. By one report the number of students transferring to private four-year colleges has increased by 13 percent over the past three years There also is no evidence of the presumed disdain by liberal arts faculty members for students who began their studies at community colleges. In fact, many institutions volunteered that transfer students have comparable or higher retention and graduation rates, higher grade point averages, and receive a disproportionate number of graduation honors, a finding that is confirmed by the recent book, Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities, by William G. Bowen, Matthew M. Chingos, and Michael S. McPherson. This is partly because independent colleges are transfer friendly. They report that their articulation agreements enable transfer students to graduate in four years (84.3 percent), and onethird even report that students with associate s degrees are accepted automatically with junior standing. Additionally, liberal arts colleges are generous with the number of credits students are allowed to transfer; an average of 69 credits can be transferred in, a number that is higher than the usual number of credits earned by rising juniors.

2 While most institutions (78 percent) report that students with associates degrees are required to pass additional general education courses, three-quarters required only junior and senior-level courses for a bachelor s degree. About 28 percent required a first-year seminar or its equivalent. Many institutions volunteered that they are seeing increases in enrollment of transfer students, and the responding institutions report a remarkable 50 percent of their bachelor s degree graduates in 2009, 2010, and 2011 were community college transfer students (though the range is significant, from 6 to 94 percent). These 218 responding colleges and universities have put into place policies and practices that facilitate community college transfer students success. Among the strategies reported are: special scholarships for transfer students; dual enrollment with community colleges; staff members dedicated to advising transfer students; involvement with state initiatives to facilitate transfer from community colleges; extensive recruitment at community colleges; and early evaluation of credit hours eligible for transfer. Other institutions offer accelerated degree programs; comprehensive transfer guides; guaranteed acceptance and graduation; online and evening courses for adults; courses taught on site at community colleges; and summer courses offered at community college tuition rates.

3 CIC Community College Transfer Survey (2011): Detailed Findings Q1: Number of CIC member institutions that participated in the survey: 215 Q2: Are there community colleges within driving distance of your institution? Yes: 99.5% (n=214) No: 0.5% (n=1) Q3: Are students with A.A. degrees accepted automatically as juniors? Yes: 33% (n=71) No: 67% (n=144) Q4: Is automatic acceptance required by state policy? Yes: 2.8% (n=6) No: 97.2% (n=205) Q5: How many credits can students transfer in to your institution? 170 institutions specified a maximum limit of credits that students can transfer from other institutions; 30 did not specify a limit but mentioned requirements on residence or course credits at their institutions in order for transfer students to graduate; and 14 reported no limit on transfer credits or any other requirements. One institution reported that the limit of transfer credits depends on a student s major. Among the 170 institutions that did report a limit, the average is 69 credit hours, with a range of 10 to 98 credit hours. Q6: Do students with A.A. degrees have to pass additional general education courses? Yes: 78.4% (n=167) No: 21.6% (n=46) Q7: Which general education courses do students with A.A. degrees have to pass? Remedial or developmental courses: 9.3% (n=15) First-year seminar or its equivalent: 28.2% (n=46) Junior and/or senior-level courses: 74.7% (n=124) Q8: Does your institution have formal articulation agreements with community colleges? Yes: 76.4% (n=162) No: 23.6% (n=50)

4 Q8a: If "yes," with how many community colleges? 137 institutions reported that they signed articulation agreements with individual colleges with an average of 10 (range = 1 117). 25 institutions responded that they participate in a statewide transfer system. Q9: Does your institution have formal articulation agreements with community colleges for particular major degree programs? Yes: 56.3% (n=120) No: 43.7% (n=93) Q13: Is the intent of the articulation agreement to enable transfer students to graduate in four years? Yes: 84.3% (n=150) No: 15.7% (n=28) Q14: What number of your bachelor's degree graduates transferred credits prior to matriculation at your institution? The proportion of the transfer students in total BA graduates varies substantially across institutions in 2011, from 5 percent to 94 percent, with a median of 50 percent. In addition, the proportion of total transfer students in total BA graduates across all institutions that reported data for 2011 is 18 percent, indicating that some large institutions have relatively small percentages of transfer students in their graduate cohorts. Q15: Is your transfer program conducted in collaboration with other four-year institutions? Yes: 10.5% (n=22) No: 89.5% (n=187) Among the 22 that responded with Yes, only 3 participate in statewide transfer systems. This might be due to different understanding about collaboration with other 4- year institutions. continues

5 Q17: Does your institution have other policies or practices that encourage community college transfer students to enroll and graduate? Of the 177 institutions that answered this question, the following practices are most popular: Scholarship for transfer students: 37% (n=66) Dual enrollment or dual admission with community colleges: 9% (n=16) Dedicated staff members to work with transfer students: 8% (n=14) Generous/liberal transfer policy: 5% (n=9) Involving in state initiative for transfer students: 3% (n=6) Extensive/regular visits to community college campuses: 3% (n=6) Free, instant, pre-application evaluation of credit transfers: 3% (n=6) Other practices include: accelerated degree program, guaranteed acceptance/graduation, online courses and evening colleges for adults, campus site in community colleges, and offering summer courses at community college tuition rate. In addition, a number of institutions mentioned that the costs at 4-year institutions are a major concern of the transfer students, thus some of their programs are designed to address this issue. Q18: Additional comments. Among the 122 institutions that provided information, 19% (n=23) reported that transfer students have comparable or higher graduation and retention rates, 2% (n=3) reported that transfer students earn more graduation honors, and 11% (n=13) reported that they have a large and increasing enrollment of transfer students.