who are your transfer students? reshaping the definition of today’s transfer students cathy...
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Who are Your Transfer Students? Reshaping the
Definition of Today’s Transfer Students
Cathy Kennemer, Ph.D.
Cheryl Hakel, B.S.
Ron Knight, M.A.
Oklahoma State University - Tulsa
Without properly defining YOUR transfer student, you cannot
effectively create a strategy to retain them.
--Unknown
Oklahoma State University - Tulsa Branch campus located 70 miles from main
campus Urban commuter campus located in
downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma Offer junior/senior level undergraduate
courses; master’s/doctoral level programs
Who are our transfer students? Approximately 75% of undergraduate student
population are transfer students Over half of OSU-T transfer students transfer from
Tulsa Community College 75.8% of transfer students come from Tulsa County Working adults Working traditional –age transfer
students living at home Ethnically diverse (African-American, Asian,
Caucasian, Native American, Hispanic, International)
Gender Distribution
Male 49%
Female51%
Male
Female
Enrollment
Part Time70%
Full Time30%
Part Time
Full Time
Ethnicity
Caucasian72%
American Indian12%
African American
7%
Latino3%
Not Reported1%
Other 2%
Asian3%
Caucasian
American Indian
African American
Asian
Latino
Other
Not Reported
Traditional undergraduate student n.– “The traditional undergraduate student in years past has been defined as one who enrolls in college full-time immediately after finishing high school, is supported financially by his/her parents and works few hours, if at all.”--National Center for Education Statistics 2005
“However if we use this definition today, traditional students make up only 27% of the college student population.” –Dr. Susan Weir 2008
Historical Definition
Transfer Student Categories1. Traditional/Residential
2. Traditional/Commuter
3. Non-traditional/Residential
4. Non-traditional/Commuter
Category Characteristics
Traditional/Residential Under 25 years old Lives in same city of residential
campus Typically Single No Dependents No employment or Part-time Full-time enrollment
Traditional/Commuter Under 25 years old Lives outside city of residential
campus Attend a campus with no Residential
Housing Typically Single No Dependents No employment or Part-time Full-time enrollment Prefer tight schedules to fit
commute
Category Characteristics
Non-traditional/Residential Older than 25 years Lives in same city of residential campus Married Dependents Full-time employment increases Part-time enrollment
Non-traditional/Commuter Older than 25 years Lives outside city limits of residential
campus Married Dependents Full-time employment increases Part-time enrollment Prefer tight schedules to fit commute
Who are your transfer students?
“Thinking Outside of the box is difficult for some people. Keep trying!”
Retention Barriers
Traditional/Residential Inability to assimilate to campus culture Unrealistic Expectations of Higher Ed Lack of goal preparedness Family pressure to attend college First Generation college student Poor Time Management Homesickness
Traditional/Commuter Lack of on campus engagement Unaware of campus services Unrealistic Expectations of Higher Ed Lack of goal preparedness Family pressure to attend college First Generation college student Poor Time Management Economic Constraints
What do you experience on your campuses?
Retention Barriers
Non-traditional/Residential Lack of Support (emotional and
financial) Time Management Difficulty planning educational goals Work and Family schedules VS. School
schedule Schedule of classes (ie: day/night
programs) Institution Requirements (ie: Internships
and Teaching Practicums) Fewer Scholarship Opportunities
Non-traditional/Commuter Lack of Support (emotional and financial) Time Management Difficulty planning educational goals Work and Family schedules VS. School
schedule Schedule of classes (ie: day/night
programs) Institution Requirements (ie: Internships) Lack of on campus engagement Unaware of campus services Economic Constraints Fewer Scholarship Opportunities
Retention Strategies
Traditional/Residential Living Learning Communities by
major Campus Organizations Mandatory Academic Advising Clinical Counseling Peer Mentors Orientations
General University Orientations Program Specific Orientations
(degree requirement)
Traditional/Commuter Online Learning Communities Hybrid Courses Mandatory Academic Advising Interactive online chat with Peer
Mentor Marketing Banners (ie: MySpace,
Facebook) School Operated Mass Transit
system
Retention Strategies
Non-traditional/Residential Timeline goals Mandatory Academic Advising Clinical Counseling Workshops
Financial Orientation
Career Services
Non-traditional/Commuter Timeline goals Mandatory Academic Advising Clinical Counseling Workshops
Financial Online Orientation
Career Services Industrial Mentor Programs
Contact Information Cathy Kennemer
[email protected] Ron Knight
[email protected] Cheryl Hakel
918-594-8271