Establishing a Campus Establishing a Campus Connection for TransfersConnection for Transfers

Janet Marling & Susan BullingerUniversity of North Texas

Fourth Annual Institute for the Study of Transfer Students

January 2006 ~ Fort Worth, Texas

Transfer Student Engagement

National Survey of Student National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)Engagement (NSSE)

56,000 senior “starters” 56,000 senior “starters” 3,500 senior transfers3,500 senior transfers

420 4-year institutions420 4-year institutions

Transfers engage in required, class-Transfers engage in required, class-related effective educational practices related effective educational practices to same degree as starters. to same degree as starters.

Transfers are less engaged in out-of-Transfers are less engaged in out-of-class “discretionary” activities.class “discretionary” activities.

Life exigencies (work, family) may Life exigencies (work, family) may preclude taking advantage of preclude taking advantage of opportunities for learningopportunities for learningKuh, G. D. (2004, January). Enhancing transfer student success. Keynote address presented at the Second Annual Institute for the Study of Transfer Students. Fort Worth, TX.

TransferTransferExpectations & Expectations &

ExperiencesExperiences

Consistency between a student’s college

expectations & experiences can affect a student’s desire

toestablish membership in an

institution’s academic community &

remain enrolled at the institution. (Braxton, Vesper, &

Hosssler, 1995)

To increase student retention, we must create a consistency between a

student’s expectations and experiences. (Barefoot, 2002)

The greater degree to which a student’s social

expectations are met, the greater the student’s

degree of integration into the social communities of a college or university. (Helland,

Stallings, Braxton, 2002)

Whom are we attempting Whom are we attempting to connect?to connect?

(Do you know your transfer (Do you know your transfer students?)students?)

• Avoid making assumptions about your transfer students based upon national data.

• Go to the source – your campus, your students.

Collaborating with your Institutional Research

Department

• Utilize data from existing sources– Admissions data– National surveys and assessment

tools

UNT Fall 2005: UNT Fall 2005: Undergraduate Admissions Undergraduate Admissions InformationInformation Current UG Enrollment: 25,308 (79.0%) New Enrollments: 7,297 Current UG Enrollment: 25,308 (79.0%) New Enrollments: 7,297 (28.9%)(28.9%)

Fall 2005 New Admits

New from high school

50% (3,635)

TAMS3% (212)

Transient Students

(27)

Dual Admits(3)

New Transfers47% (3,420)

Clark, A., Odom, L.R., Barton, M., Fuentes, C., Donzello, M., & Todd, J. (2006). Clark, A., Odom, L.R., Barton, M., Fuentes, C., Donzello, M., & Todd, J. (2006). University of North Texas fact book: 2005-2006University of North Texas fact book: 2005-2006. .

Unpublished document. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Office of Institutional Research and Unpublished document. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.Effectiveness.

Undergraduate Ages

18-19, (6,724), 27%

17 & Under, (784), 3%

20-21, (7,247), 28%

22-23, (5,017), 20%

24-25, (2,154), 9%

26-30, (1,726), 7%

51+, (114), 0%41-50, (434), 2%

31-40, (1,108), 4%

UNT Undergraduate ProfileUNT Undergraduate ProfileAverage age: 22.2Average age: 22.2

Clark, A., Odom, L.R., Barton, M., Fuentes, C., Donzello, M., & Todd, J. (2006). Clark, A., Odom, L.R., Barton, M., Fuentes, C., Donzello, M., & Todd, J. (2006).

University of North Texas fact book: 2005-2006. University of North Texas fact book: 2005-2006.

Unpublished document. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Office of Institutional Research and Unpublished document. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.Effectiveness.

Clark, A., Odom, L.R., Barton, M., Fuentes, C., Donzello, M., & Todd, J. (2006). Clark, A., Odom, L.R., Barton, M., Fuentes, C., Donzello, M., & Todd, J. (2006). University of North Texas fact book: 2005-2006. University of North Texas fact book: 2005-2006.

Unpublished document. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Office of Institutional Research and Unpublished document. Denton, TX: University of North Texas Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. Effectiveness.

UNT Transfer ProfileUNT Transfer Profile Transfers account for 46.8% of new student enrollments in Fall 2005.

Classification at time of Transfer

Freshman, (403), 12%

Sophomore, (1,600), 47%

Junior, (1,144), 33%

Senior, (273), 8%

Collaborating with your Collaborating with your Institutional Research Institutional Research

DepartmentDepartment

• Create new surveys that meet your needs– Ex. Continuing Student Survey

Sharing the DataSharing the Data

• Create a plan to disseminate the results.

• Create opportunities to challenge assumptions and/or perceptions about your transfer student population.

Creating the Creating the ConnectionsConnections

ListeningListening

• Transfer Talk-Backs– At least twice each semester– Free lunch – Discussion and written survey– Changed format and results– Sharing the feedback

RecognitionRecognition

• Tau Sigma– Demonstrates institution’s

commitment to transfer students– Recognizes academic excellence– Provides a point of connection for

listening and leadership opportunities

LeadershipLeadership

• Transfer Ambassadors (TransAms)– Initial contact: Transfer Panel– Ongoing connection: Major, Tours,

Mentors– Voice of progress– Opportunity, not an organization

Transfer ConnectionTransfer ConnectionAction PlanAction Plan

Contact Information

Janet L. MarlingJanet L. MarlingDirector, New Student & Mentoring ProgramsUniversity of North TexasP.O. Box 311274Denton, Texas 76203(940) 369-8397Trepka@dsa.admin.unt.e

du

Susan BullingerSusan BullingerGA, Transfer ProgramsUniversity of North

TexasP.O. Box 311274Denton, Texas 76203(940) 369-8397SusanB@dsa.admin.unt.

edu