The Texas Transfer Success Conference Marc Cutright and Bonita Jacobs The University of North Texas TACUSPA Annual Conference El Paso, Texas October 5, 2009

Summary May 22, 2009 Funded by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Conceived, planned and executed by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and the University of North Texas Center for Higher Education Nearly 1,000 educators convened at one time to discuss transfer issues, data, frameworks for address of issues, and local solutions “Transferpalooza”

Prologue Closing the Gaps 2015 2/2008 Chancellors & Presidents Transfer Summit. Hosted by THECB and UT System. Logistical & research support by NISTS. Strong presence of high-level campus executives; about 150 attendees. Presenters from Florida, facilitated discussions, extensive recommendations for state and institutional policies and practices Emphasis on solutions as next step, not just further defining the issues

UNT’s proposal NISTS and the Center for Higher Education Involve “front line” personnel in the discussions and solutions Eight simultaneous conferences, one day, across the state. State would pay all expenses except individual drive- in expenses. National, state, and local information and solutions. Contract via competitive bid

Logistics Sites were Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Lubbock, McAllen, and Tyler. Considerations both population and geography. At each site: One NIST co-chair, one local co-chair, one THECB rep, local coordinator and volunteers Extensive training and preparation Free, but online registration required Site attendance from about 50 to more than 200.

The program highlights Site-simultaneous keynote address by John Gardner and Betsy Barefoot, John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education Later simultaneous address by Trudy Bers on the IPKIT campus self-study process for transfer policies and practices Explanation of THECB data sites and how to produce local data STEP Awards (more)

STEP Awards Successful Transfer Enhancement Programs Competitive awards process in several categories, entries by colleges and universities About 70 entries, about 30 awards Examples of winners: El Paso reverse transfer programs, UT-Dallas Comet Connection, Alamo Area Transfer Council Will be turned into a monograph of some best practices and ideas

The thumb drive Each participant given a thumb drive All of the STEP award entries Key state reports Key research articles and reports Annotated bibliography of research Documents on the IPKIT (Improving Practitioner Knowledge to Enhance Transfer) process In all, about a thousand pages of resources

The evaluations, key positives I have the tools necessary to access data on the THECB website (83%) I have a better understanding of transfer student demographics in my region (70%) I will adapt one of the recognized programs/activities to improve transfer student success at my institution (58%) I better understand the transfer student experience and how it affects transfer success (77%) I better understand how the THECB can assist me in improving transfer student success (79%) I am interested in maintaining the momentum of this conference by participating in follow-up workshops and presentations focused on creating regional and statewide Transfer Success Plans (77%) The USB drive is helpful (97%)

Anticipated benefits Closer local cooperation in Texas Development and expansion of campus “teams” with a commitment to transfer success More use of available tools Better knowledge of state goals, better use of state data to reach them Using STEP Awards to design local initiatives

What has it meant for NISTS? Potential for more service grants/contracts Support for successful, recent pursuit of two external grants, one research, one service Potential for some international transfer/articulation work in Africa and Asia

What could it mean for you? Is your campus doing enough to meet the needs of transfer students? Do you have sufficient information on the transfer student experience to know what to do, what shortcomings need to be addressed? What leadership roles can student affairs professionals take on your campus to advance the transfer student agenda?

For more information Bonita Jacobs VP Student Development, UNT and Executive Director of NISTS Bonita.Jacobs@unt.edu Marc Cutright Associate Professor of Higher Education The University of North Texas Marc.Cutright@unt.edu