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
Daemen College, Amherst NY (1982-87)
Cayuga Community College, Auburn NY (1987-1988)
Lakeland Community College, Mentor OH (1988-2000)
Buffalo State College, Buffalo NY (2000-2005)
The University of Akron, Akron OH (2005-present)
Enrollment Planning Process—The Roadmap (Fall 2006-09)
First time freshmen– 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
Internal Review– University of Akron– Buffalo State College
External Transfer Environment– Competition– Trends– Affordability– Access
SUNY Campuses
Transfer Student Enrollment
The University of Akron
Total Enrollment: 23,539
Fall 2006 911
Fall 2005 828
Fall 2004 793
Fall 2003 867
Fall 2002 929
Transfer Student Enrollment
Buffalo State College
Total Enrollment: 11,129
Fall 2006 1133
Fall 2005 1081
Fall 2004 1014
Fall 2003 1011
Fall 2002 1102
Transfer Student Themes
Transfer student admissions behaviors Role of geography Transfer student success Defining competition Affordability and access
Transfer Student Application Behaviors—University of Akron
When Students Apply for the Fall Term
As of March 1 for Fall 2006- 77% of all freshmen applicants
have applied
- 32% of all transfer applicants have applied
Transfer Student Application Behaviors—University of Akron
Yield (for Fall 2006)
- 42% of all accepted freshmen enroll
- 66% of all accepted transfer
students enroll
Transfer Student Application Behaviors—SUNY
Number of Application Choices (Fall 2006)
Applicants: 12,211
Applications: 17,206
Source: SUNY APC
Role of Geography
Defining our effective recruitment range
Geography—SUNY Community Colleges (Fall 2003)
Erie Community College 588 transfer-out to SUNY colleges/universities
Buffalo State College 265University at Buffalo 231Fredonia 33Brockport 18
Source: SUNY IR
Geography—SUNY Community Colleges (Fall 2003)
Cayuga Community College 168 transfer-out to SUNY colleges
Oswego 67Cortland 16Brockport 11Buffalo State 7
Source: SUNY IR
GeographyBuffalo State College—Top Feeder InstitutionsFall 2003
Erie Community College 265Niagara Community College 100University at Buffalo (SUNY) 56Genesee Community College 16Monroe Community College 24
Nassau 5Suffolk 3
GeographyIn-State Retention Rate after Graduation (Ohio)
Cuyahoga Community College 88%Lakeland Community College 91%Lorain Community College 91%Sinclair Community College 89%
Source: OBR
GeographyUniversity of Akron—Top Feeder Institutions
Number of Students
1. Cuyahoga Community College 1272. Kent State—Main 1133. Stark State 634. Toledo 335. Ohio State 326. Lakeland Community College 297. Lorain Community College 288. Kent State—Stark 279. Bowling Green 2210. Ashland University 17
Reflects 51% of all new transfers
Transfer Student Success
Various views and perspectives– Community College (sending institution)– Four Year College (receiving institution)
Community College Student SuccessThree Years Later (Ohio)
Earned Degree Persisting at Same Persisting at Other
Community Colleges 8% 38% 10%
State Community Colleges 11% 34% 10%
Technical Colleges 21% 26% 8%
Branch Campuses 10% 44% 13%
Source: OBR
Community College Student SuccessFirst 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
Community College Student SuccessFirst to Second Year Persistence at any Ohio Institution—Freshmen Age 19 or Younger
Completed H.S Core Did Not Complete
Statewide 87% 77%Community Colleges 77% 71%Main Campuses 90% 82%Main Campuses with Open Admissions 85% 75%
Source: OBR
Transfer Student SuccessImpact on Junior Level Status (Ohio)
Statewide Total: 38,968 % Avg. GPA
No previous credit at two year: 76% 3.045 or fewer credits earned: 14% 3.0More than 45 credits earned: 10% 2.8
University of Akron: 3,090
No previous credit at two year: 80% 3.145 or fewer credits earned: 10% 3.1More than 45 credits earned: 9% 3.0
Source: OBR
Transfer Student SuccessPersistence 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
Transfer Student SuccessGraduation Rate—Frame of Reference
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 Student SuccessPersistence and Graduation Rates—Large Public University in Virginia
First-Year Persistence
First-Time Students: 79.9%
Transfer Students: 80.6%
Transfer 4-Year Graduation Rate: 62%
Freshmen 6-Year Graduation Rate: 50%
Defining Competition
Inputs—Feeder Institutions (new transfers) Outputs—Non-persisting students (who do
we lose our students to?)
Competition Defined by Geography
Colleges and universities within 25 miles of Cuyahoga Community College
Community Colleges: 2
Public Universities: 3
Private Colleges: 8
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. Kent State 562. Stark State 543. Ohio State 354. Walsh University 165. Lorain County CC 166. Youngstown State 147. Cleveland State 148. Cuyahoga CC 139. Ohio University 12
Affordability and Access
The key change in the transfer student landscape
Affordability and Access
SUNY Tuition
Average Community College$3,200
SUNY College Tuition $5,300
Ohio
Average Community College $2,800
University of Akron $8,400
Pressure to Increase Quality (SUNY)
Buffalo State College Freshmen Denials
Fall 2005 1840Fall 2004 1454Fall 2003 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
Lessons Learned—As more things change…
Targeted scholarships Value and respect transfer credit (currency) Relevance of agreements
– Community colleges are looking for “real” collaborations Don’t fight behaviors Don’t fight geography Relationships
– Partnerships– Key role of transfer counselors– Consistency of information and processing
Agility Seamless Transfer student support services at the four-year campus—without labels Adult differentiation may not be appropriate