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January 9, 2018 | Author: Anonymous | Category: Social Science, Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
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Cultivating Success in Transfer Students: Developing a Seamless Transition Tony Lazarowicz, M.A

Why is this important? • Almost 60% of students have attended at least two institutions (Adelman, 2006) • In 2006, students aged 25 and older made up nearly 40% of the country’s overall college population (U.S. Department of Education, 2009) • Tatum, Hayward, and Monzon (2006) found that many transfer students believe minimal effort goes into assisting and guiding them. • Other complications with admissions, registration, academic advising, housing, financial aid, & involvement (Eggleston & Laanan, 2001)

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Consider this scenario Two traditional-aged African American male students who transferred to a college in their hometown after one year at their state’s flagship university. One is transferring because the major he selected is only offered at the institution that is closer to his home. The other was academically unsuccessful at the previous institution

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Program Overview • Schlossberg’s Transition Theory "Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net".

• Implementing Strategies • Transfer CAS Standards • Discussion Groups

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Available to order at the NACADA booth here Much of the theory presentation is based on our article entitled “Advising Transfer Students: Implications of Schlossberg’s Transition Theory” by Craig M. McGill & Tony Lazarowicz

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Types of Transfer Students • • • • •

2-Year Institution to 4-Year Institution (2+2/ Vertical) 2-year (4-year) Institution to 2-year (4-year) Institution (Lateral) 4-year Institution to 2-Year Institution (Reverse) Multiple institutions throughout academic career (Swirler) Transfer from institution that does not have reciprocal accreditation with the receiving community college (Thwarted) Borst, Jones, & Cohen, 2012)

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Other Types of Transfer Students • Dual-enrolled high school transfer students – Depending on definition, 15+ credits entering “freshman” year • International Students • Military Personnel • Adult Returners • Workforce development and/or unemployed • Major-changers • Undergraduate to Graduate School Transfers

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Challenges for Transfer Students • Articulation Agreements – Shopping Around (both colleges and majors) • Lost Costs – $7 billion/yr in credits not helping students move toward degree requirements (Smith, 2010) • Transfer Shock/Culture Shock (Transfer Coma (Whitfield, 2005)) • Lack of information from receiving institution • Time Management (competing priorities) • Academic & Social Engagement/ Connection to Faculty

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Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1984; 1995; 2006) Transitions Defined:

“any event, or non-event, that results in changed relationships, routines, assumptions, and roles” (Goodman et al., 2006, p. 33)

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Assisting Students in Transition • Type of Transition – Events (anticipated/ non-anticipated) – Non-events • Individual’s Perception of Transition

• Context in which it took place • Impact upon the Individual

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Consider these Scenarios • Jordan began prerequisite nursing classes at one institution knowing he would need to complete the curriculum elsewhere; • Dakota’s institution suddenly closed down due to financial hardships and she had only one month to find a new institution; • Angel graduated with a bachelor’s degree, was not accepted into law school, and is taking classes in a postbaccalaureate program at another institution.

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Role of Perception

• Is Key in the Transition Process • Involves two levels of Appraisals – Primary: How the individual feels about the transition in general – Secondary: How individual feels about their resources in dealing with the Transition?

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Consider this Scenario Jennifer, a military veteran, just finishing active duty returns to begin her academic career. Although excited about her first semester back to civilian life, she has continued concerns about post combat stress academic underpreparedness, and connecting to peers native to the institution.

• Through this process, staff working with transfer students need to understand the way a particular event influences the many roles, relationships, routines, and assumptions of the student (Schlossberg, Waters, & Goodman, 1995).

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Transition Process Three phases:

Staff must consider Pre/Post environment

• “Moving In” • “Moving Through” • “Moving Out”

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Coping with Transition: 4 S’s

Adapted from Schlossberg et al., (1995)

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Combining Counseling and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory

Adapted from Goodman et al. (2006)

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Applying the Theory • Helps staff understand the experiences of transfer students • The theory answers the questions: – “Why do different people react differently to the same type of transition?” – “Why does the same person react differently at different times” (Goodman et al., 2006, p. 57).

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What Questions Should You Ask Yourself? • What was the impetus for the transfer and was it planned or unplanned? • How much control did the student have in making the decision to transfer? • How has the transfer student’s role changed as a result of transfer? • Did he or she need to construct a new identity as a result? • How does this reconstruction shape the student’s new experiences?

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More Questions to Ask Yourself • Is this student planning to stay at the new institution through degree completion? • Has the student experienced a previous transition like this? • How did she or he perceive that change (positive, negative, or neutral)? • Is the reason (particularly for swirlers) for the move simple or complicated; that is, did it involve more considerations than a desire to take courses or declare a major not offered at the previous institution(s)? • What other stressors is the transfer student experiencing? 19

As you work with the student: Questions to ask • “What do you need to be successful?” • “Who are some of the people you reach out to?”

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Consider this Scenario • Sherry, a 30-year-old female, transfers from a community college to an engineering feeder program with mostly 20year-old men in her classes. How will her gender, life stage, and the aforementioned psychosocial characteristics impact her transition?

• Maria, a Hispanic female student, transfers from a small, private, religiously affiliated college to a large 4-year state institution to pursue a degree in architecture.

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Programs in Place At UNL • Academic Transfer Coordinator • Pre-transfer Outreach by Arts and Sciences • Transfer Mentoring for low-income transfer students (William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community)

• UNL College of Engineering S.T. E.P Program • Transfer Learning Community

• Specific Outreach to specific groups (honors, military) 22

Academic Transfer Coordinator • Office of Undergraduate Education • Evaluates Transfer Credits and works to secure equivalencies for students prior to arrival

• Transfer Connections Newsletter (Weekly) • Tau Sigma

• I.C.A.N. (Individuals Committed to the Achievement of Non-traditionals) • Transfer Student Website (transfer2.unl.edu) • Transfer New Student Enrollment/ Orientation Days

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Pre-Transfer Outreach by Arts and Sciences

Student Expresses Interest & Applies

Evaluate Credit and Develop Personalized Degree Audit

E-mail Student with audit and Welcome message

Encourage Early NSE Date

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Follow-up contacts leading to registration

W.H.T Transfer Student Mentor Native 2nd year students in program do not have mentors while transfer students do • Transfer Student Orientation • Individual 1-1 meeting (1st week of semester) • Monthly Meetings – Individual – Group (social) • Mid-semester grade check • Participation in other 2nd year events for the whole learning community

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College of Engineering – S.T.E.P. (Strengthening Transitions into Engineering Programs) program • Components – Complete fundamental engineering prerequisites while at a community college (4 engineering courses) • Courses will transfer and will prepare students for junior year at UNL – Access to knowledgeable advisers – Community building with other UNL engineering students, faculty and staff

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Overall Benefits • Exposure to the engineering field while at a community college • Ability to make educated decisions concerning which engineering path to take

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Transfer Living Learning Community • Live with other transfer students in Suite-style Residence Center • Participate in a six-week seminar class designed especially for transfer students – Discuss academic, social, and residential services at the University • Event participation (i.e. “Dinner with a Professor” and an alternative fall break service trip)

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Other Suggestions by Silverman, Aliabadi, & Stiles (2009) • Transfer Student Orientation – Various dates/times – Location/hrs of offices; financial aid; parking; transportation; food services; student advising; campus childcare; student organizations; tutoring; unstructured peer networking opportunities • Transfer Student Peer Mentors • Engage in out-of-classroom experiences that challenge cognitive, moral, and identity development • Transfer Student Organization Fairs • Transfer Student Theme Floor

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Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education • Standards guide practice and are essential to the profession • Use of standards “design of new programs and services, for determining the efficacy of programs, for staff development, or for programmatic assessment as a part of an institutional self-study” (CAS, 2009, p 11) as cited in Miller, 2012

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Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education • • • • • •

12 Parts of General Standards Mission • Diversity, Equity, and Access Program • Institutional and External Organization and Relations Leadership • Financial Resources Human Resources • Technology Ethics • Facilities and Equipment Law, Policy, and Government • Assessment and Evaluation

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Examples of some of the standards • Mission- The mission of Transfer Student Programs and Services (TSPS) is to aid in the successful transfer, persistence, and graduation of transfer students. To accomplish the mission, TSPS must facilitate seamless pathways among and within institutions to support transfer students at all stages of their transitions. (CAS, 2012)

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How to assess the mission of the program

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Transfer Student Programs TSPS should ensure that the institution provides support for transfer-intending students and current transfers by offering the following opportunities: • advising regarding the institution’s admission process and application for admission • assistance as needed in orientation and academic advising • early-alert systems, intrusive advising, academic support, transfer-year seminars and student success courses, peer mentoring, and other transition services (CAS, 2012)

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Transfer Standards are Available • Free outline of standards at http://www.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=1C93DD470676-FCF1-0903338D7B2FCE15 • CAS offers a self-assessment guide (SAG) for $35 that can help people really zero in on what components are needed to strengthen their transfer program. The SAG takes each part of the transfer standards and divides it out into questions that help programs determine where they offer exemplary services and exactly where services can be improved.

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Breakout Groups 1. How is your institution currently assessing your efforts with transfer students? Are you officially using the CAS Standards? 2. What policies/ procedures at your institutions are hindering/ helping the success of transfer students? 3. As higher education professionals, what are some ideas you have for building better connections with professionals at other institutions that tend to be feeder schools to your institutions; or that your institution tends to be feeder schools to? 4. What are the significant challenges that you see transfer students face at your institution upon arrival? 5. What specific things need to be changed at your institution to help ensure transfer students are being adequately reached? This could be related to enrollment programs, advising, programming, housing, or similar ideas.

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For more information, please contact Tony Lazarowicz, M.A. Academic Adviser, College of Arts and Sciences [email protected] Or (402)472-4190 ©2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska

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