A Transfer Student’s Access to a Four-Year Public College/University—Has the Landscape Changed?

1. 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

2. 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)

3. 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

4. Transfer Student Focus An enrollment management perspective on the behaviors of transfer students

5. Internal and External Review of the Current Landscape • Internal Review • University of Akron • Buffalo State College • External Transfer Environment • Competition • Trends • Affordability • Access

7. SUNY Campuses

8. 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

9. 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

10. Transfer Student Themes • Transfer student admissions behaviors • Role of geography • Transfer student success • Defining competition • Affordability and access

11. 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

12. Transfer Student Application Behaviors—University of Akron Yield (for Fall 2006) - 42% of all accepted freshmen enroll - 66% of all accepted transfer students enroll

13. Transfer Student Application Behaviors—SUNY Number of Application Choices (Fall 2006) Applicants: 12,211 Applications: 17,206 Source: SUNY APC

14. Role of Geography Defining our effective recruitment range

15. Geography—SUNY Community Colleges (Fall 2003) Erie Community College 588 transfer-out to SUNY colleges/universities Buffalo State College 265 University at Buffalo 231 Fredonia 33 Brockport 18 Source: SUNY IR

16. Geography—SUNY Community Colleges (Fall 2003) Cayuga Community College 168 transfer-out to SUNY colleges Oswego 67 Cortland 16 Brockport 11 Buffalo State 7 Source: SUNY IR

17. GeographyBuffalo State College—Top Feeder InstitutionsFall 2003 Erie Community College 265 Niagara Community College 100 University at Buffalo (SUNY) 56 Genesee Community College 16 Monroe Community College 24 Nassau 5 Suffolk 3

18. 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

19. GeographyUniversity of Akron—Top Feeder Institutions Number of Students • Cuyahoga Community College 127 • Kent State—Main 113 • Stark State 63 • Toledo 33 • Ohio State 32 • Lakeland Community College 29 • Lorain Community College 28 • Kent State—Stark 27 • Bowling Green 22 • Ashland University 17 Reflects 51% of all new transfers

20. Transfer Student Success • Various views and perspectives • Community College (sending institution) • Four Year College (receiving institution)

21. 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

22. Community College Student SuccessFirst to Second Year Persistence by Institution Type (Ohio) SameAny Statewide 68% 77% Community Colleges 56% 61% Main Campuses 75% 85% Main Campuses with Open Admissions 65% 75% Source: OBR

23. Community College Student SuccessFirst to Second Year Persistence at any Ohio Institution—Freshmen Age 19 or Younger Completed H.S CoreDid Not Complete Statewide 87% 77% Community Colleges 77% 71% Main Campuses 90% 82% Main Campuses with Open Admissions 85% 75% Source: OBR

24. Transfer Student SuccessImpact on Junior Level Status (Ohio) Statewide Total: 38,968 % Avg. GPA No previous credit at two year: 76% 3.0 45 or fewer credits earned: 14% 3.0 More than 45 credits earned: 10% 2.8 University of Akron: 3,090 No previous credit at two year: 80% 3.1 45 or fewer credits earned: 10% 3.1 More than 45 credits earned: 9% 3.0 Source: OBR

25. 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

26. 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

27. So Guess What? The graduation rate of transfer students was 5 to 20 points lower

28. 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%

29. Defining Competition • Inputs—Feeder Institutions (new transfers) • Outputs—Non-persisting students (who do we lose our students to?)

30. Competition Defined by Geography Colleges and universities within 25 miles of Cuyahoga Community College Community Colleges: 2 Public Universities: 3 Private Colleges: 8

31. 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%)

32. Top Institutions of Non-Persisting Students 1. Kent State 56 2. Stark State 54 3. Ohio State 35 4. Walsh University 16 5. Lorain County CC 16 6. Youngstown State 14 7. Cleveland State 14 8. Cuyahoga CC 13 9. Ohio University 12

33. Affordability and Access The key change in the transfer student landscape

34. 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

35. Pressure to Increase Quality (SUNY) Buffalo State College Freshmen Denials Fall 2005 1840 Fall 2004 1454 Fall 2003 1402 Coupled with a 50% reduction in the special admit program

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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