Transcript Transfer Presentation

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


Thirteen years in the community college
environment
Thirteen years in the four year college
environment
–
8 years in an urban college/university
environment
Enrollment Planning Process—
The Roadmap (Fall 2006-09)

First time freshmen
–
–
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
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

Wealth of Resources
–
–
–
–
–
The University of Akron
SUNY College at Buffalo
SUNY APC Data
OBR
Other college/university data and research
Transfer Student Enrollment
The University of Akron
Total Enrollment: 24,704
Fall 2007
Fall 2006
Fall 2005
Fall 2004
Fall 2003
Fall 2002
916
911
828
793
867
929
SUNY Campuses
Transfer Student Enrollment
Buffalo State College
Total Enrollment: 11,129
Fall 2007
Fall 2006
Fall 2005
Fall 2004
Fall 2003
Fall 2002
1116
1133
1081
1014
1011
1102
Transfer Student Themes
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Transfer student admissions behaviors
Role of geography
Transfer student success
Stop-Outs/Swirling
Affordability and access
Transfer Student Application
Behaviors—University of Akron
When Students Apply for the Fall Term
As of April 1 for Fall 2007
- 92% of all freshmen applicants
have applied
-
40% of all transfer applicants
have applied
Transfer Student Application
Behaviors—University of Akron
Yield (for Fall 2007)
-
43% of all accepted freshmen enroll
-
66% of all accepted transfer
students enroll
Transfer Student Application
Behaviors—SUNY
Number of Application Choices (Fall 2006)
Applicants:
Applications:
Source: SUNY APC
12,211
17,206
Why?

Each transfer situation is unique
–

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Uncertainty is a common theme
Unlike first time freshmen, no consistent
process across all colleges
Admissions decision is based on college
work
AGILITY
Role of Geography
Defining your effective recruitment range
SUNY Campuses
Geography—SUNY Community
Colleges
Erie Community College
Buffalo State College
University at Buffalo
Fredonia
Brockport
Source: SUNY IR (2004)
588 transfer-out to SUNY
colleges/universities
265
231
33
18
Geography—SUNY Community
Colleges
Cayuga Community College
Oswego
Cortland
Brockport
Buffalo State
Source: SUNY IR (2004)
168 transfer-out to
SUNY colleges
67
16
11
7
Geography
Buffalo State College—Top Feeder Institutions
Fall 2003
Erie Community College
Niagara Community College
University at Buffalo (SUNY)
Genesee Community College
Monroe Community College
Nassau
Suffolk
265
100
56
16
24
5
3
Geography
In-State Retention Rate after Graduation (Ohio)
Cuyahoga Community College
Lakeland Community College
Lorain Community College
Sinclair Community College
Source: OBR
88%
91%
91%
89%
Geography
University of Akron—Top Feeder Institutions
Number of Students
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Cuyahoga Community College
Kent State—Main
Stark State
Toledo
Ohio State
Lakeland Community College
Lorain Community College
Kent State—Stark
Bowling Green
Ashland University
127
113
63
33
32
29
28
27
22
17
Reflects 51% of all new transfers
Note: 88% of the OSU transfers have a home address in the Akron area
Don’t Fight Geography
Effective use of limited resources
Transfer Student Success

Various views and perspectives
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Community College (sending institution)
Four Year College (receiving institution)
Community College Student Success
First 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
Transfer Student Success
Impact on Junior Level Status (Ohio)
Statewide Total:
38,968
%
No previous credit at two year:
45 or fewer credits earned:
More than 45 credits earned:
University of Akron:
No previous credit at two year:
45 or fewer credits earned:
More than 45 credits earned:
Source: OBR
Avg. GPA
76%
14%
10%
3.0
3.0
2.8
80%
10%
9%
3.1
3.1
3.0
3,090
Transfer Student Success
Persistence 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
Graduation Rate Comparison
Buffalo State College
Fall 2000 Cohort

Freshmen (First Term Fall 2000)
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–
–
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After Four Years:
After Five Years:
After Six Years:
15%
36%
44%
Transfer (First Term Fall 2000)
–
–
–
After Four Years:
After Five Years:
After Six Years:
59%
62%
64%
Transfer Student Success
Persistence and Graduation Rates—
Large Public University in Virginia
First-Year Persistence
First-Time Students:
Transfer Students:
79.9%
80.6%
Transfer 4-Year Graduation Rate:
Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate:
62%
50%
One State’s Perspective on Transfer Student
Success
An Example of Bias Against Transfer Students
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 Students Succeed
Typically at rates higher than the first time/full time
cohort
Bias against behaviors transfer students bring to the
institution
Stop-Outs/Swirling Students
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National Student Loan Clearinghouse Data
Returning student recruitment
Retention research
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Kent State
Stark State
Ohio State
Walsh University
Lorain County CC
Youngstown State
Cleveland State
Cuyahoga CC
Ohio University
56
54
35
16
16
14
14
13
12
Transfer Defined by Geography
Colleges and universities within a 45 minute
drive of The University of Akron
Community Colleges: 4
Public Universities:
3
Private Colleges:
8
Affordability and Access
The key change in the transfer student
landscape
Affordability and Access
SUNY Tuition
Average Community College
SUNY College Tuition
$3,200
$5,300
Ohio
Average Community College
University of Akron
$2,800
$8,400
Pressure to Increase Quality (SUNY)
Buffalo State College Freshmen Denials
Fall 2005
Fall 2004
Fall 2003
1840
1454
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
Seamless
Transfer
Value and Respect Transfer Credit
(Currency)
Lessons Learned—As more things
change…
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Targeted scholarships
Value and respect transfer credit (currency)
Relevance of agreements
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Don’t fight behaviors
Don’t fight geography
Agility
Seamless
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Community colleges are looking for “real” collaborations
Partnerships
Consistency of information and processing
Transfer student support services at the four-year campus—
without labels