Who are Your Transfer Students? Reshaping the Definition of Today’s Transfer Students

1. 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

2. Without properly defining YOUR transfer student, you cannot effectively create a strategy to retain them. --Unknown

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Gender Distribution

6. Enrollment

7. Ethnicity

8. Historical Definition 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

9. Transfer Student Categories • Traditional/Residential • Traditional/Commuter • Non-traditional/Residential • Non-traditional/Commuter

10. 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

11. 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

12. Who are your transfer students? “Thinking Outside of the box is difficult for some people. Keep trying!”

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Contact Information • Cathy Kennemercathy.kennemer@okstate.edu • Ron Knightronald.knight@okstate.edu • Cheryl Hakelcheryl.hakel@okstate.edu 918-594-8271