The RP Group’s “Through the Gate” Transfer Study So Close, Yet So Far from Candy Castle CCC Chief Instructional Officers Conference October 27, 2017 With initiatives to improve transfer success taking root in the state, the RP Group is examining what else we can do to increase transfer for key populations. This session introduces quantitative findings from phase one of our “Through the Gate” Transfer Study. Supported by the College Futures Foundation, this research focuses on “high-leverage” students whose course-taking shows them “at” or “near” the transfer gate, but who have not yet made it through to a four-year institution. We will discuss who these students are and explore with participants what may be impeding their progress. Additionally, we will highlight our innovative approach to convening project advisors who represent a range of perspectives on transfer and our efforts to strategically engage them in guiding this pioneering work. Kristen Fong, PhD Alyssa Nguyen, MA

The RP Group www.rpgroup.org Mission Strengthen CCCs’ ability to gather, analyze, and act on information in order to enhance student equity and success Services Research, evaluation, planning, professional development, and technical assistance—designed and conducted by CCC practitioners Organization 501(c)3 with roots as membership organization

College Futures Foundation www.collegefutures.org Vision More graduates for a thriving California Mission Removing barriers so more low-income and underrepresented students attain bachelor’s degrees Funder Connector Partner

Presentation Outline Guided Pathways Through the Gate Transfer Study Connecting the Dots: Guided Pathways and the Transfer Study Through the Gate Transfer Study A Fresh Take on the Transfer Challenge Mapping the Transfer Landscape Phase I Findings Getting Better Directions Phase II Research Participants will… Learn how many students are at or near the transfer gate, but who have not yet made it through to a baccalaureate institution Gain insights into the barriers to progress and opportunities for increasing transfer, based on a review of the quantitative data Know the next steps in this transfer research, including gathering the perspectives of students who are at or near the transfer gate but have not yet transferred to determine additional factors impeding their progress and where the opportunities to help these students exist Appreciate the importance and value of engaging a group of advisors with diverse perspectives on transfer Discover new ways to strategically recruit and engage advisors in major research initiatives

Connecting the Dots: Guided Pathways and the Transfer Study Discussion of CA strategic vision

Prompts What we know about guided pathways… How is guided pathways supposed to enhance student success? How will it help students transfer? Interaction with audience – So what is the connection between transfer and the guided pathways? What do we know about guided pathways?

Clarity Intake Support Learning Help frame study within the four pillars Ask audience, to share out what their understanding of each pillar and where they see the connection is with transfer for each pillar.

Through the Gate Transfer Study A Fresh Take on the Transfer Challenge

Why Is Transfer Important? Economic Perspective Strategy for addressing expected shortfall of 1M+ college graduates in CA by 2030 (Public Policy Institute of California, 2015) Cost-effective way to support baccalaureate completion (theoretically) Equity Perspective Opportunity for underrepresented students to gain access to university, secure a baccalaureate, increase economic and social mobility Reference Transfer Maze study when talking about cost-effectiveness

What Do We Know about Improving Transfer Success? Transfer velocity – we know who makes it to transfer Role transfer cultures play (CC and university perspectives) AD-T implementation National Transfer Research Transfer Playbook: Essential Practices for Two- and Four-Year Colleges (CCRC, Wyner et al., 2016) Effective communication within community colleges that transfer is a high priority Development of transparent and effective programmatic pathways that guide and advance students to transfer Customized and high-quality transfer advising to guide students to transfer and to support students after they transfer, provided both by community colleges and their four-year college partners Study included site visits to six pairs of high-performing institutions in six states, identified three strategies to increase transfer: California Transfer Research Effective Practices: College characteristics and commitments Robust transfer culture, student-focused environment, intense commitment to the institution among personnel, strategic high school partnerships, strong four-year relationships, and effective use of support services (Mery & Schiorring, 2008) Associate Degree for Transfer (SB 1440, SB 440, AB 1016) Significant but uneven progress achieved by CCCs in developing AD-Ts and by CSU campuses tasked with increasing number of TMCs (Moore & Shulock, 2014) In 2014, four CSUs accounted for 2/3 enrollment of AD-T earners; Latino students represented 42% of AD-T earners (Campaign for College Opportunity, 2016) 40% increase in degree attainment in departments offering AD-Ts (Baker, 2014)

Through the Gate Aims to… Identify individuals who have completed all or most of their transfer requirements, but who do not make it “through the gate” to university Identify strategies for increasing transfer, boosting baccalaureate production, and enhancing students’ social and economic mobility--especially for underrepresented populations Purpose/objective

Research Approach Phase I: Mapping the Transfer Landscape Quantitative research to better understand the transfer landscape focusing on students who met all or most of their requirements but have not transferred Phase II: Getting Better Directions Qualitative research to understand what factors impact these students’ journeys and how policy and practice might change to propel them through the gate Process

Mapping the Transfer Landscape Phase I Findings

Phase I Research Questions How many CCC students have met all or most of their transfer requirements, but have not yet transferred? Who are these students and where do they reside? What can we glean about possible opportunities to increase these students’ transfer success? Before we can answer these answers – we needed to define the continuum and identify who are these students?

A Fresh Take on the Transfer Continuum Treat transfer as a journey rather than a binary yes transfer no transfer Look at different points along a continuum which will allow us to take a more nuanced approach to understanding transfer barriers and challenges for different populations Transfer Explorers: These students showed behavioral intent to transfer by completing at least six but fewer than 45 transferable units within six years of first-time enrollment, but have not transferred; this group represents the majority of students in our original sample (60.2%, n=1,617,215).  Momentum Students: These students demonstrated momentum toward a transfer goal by achieving 45 – 59 transferable units, and maintaining a 2.0 GPA during the study period, but have not transferred; this group represents 7.2% (n=194,639) of our original sample. For a preliminary exploration of momentum students, see What Other Transfer-Bound Students Need Strategic Support? on page 50. Identify cohort – who was the starting sample (unit threshold, target years) At the gate defined Near the gate defined Also in brief and infographic if hard to read from screen

Small Group Discussion Reflect on the transfer landscape at your college… How many students on your campus are ready for transfer but don’t make it “through the gate” to Candy Castle? Who are these students?

Students on the Transfer Continuum Nearly 2 million CCC students demonstrate behavioral intent to transfer Data from CO and National Student Clearinghouse

Study Sample 875,630 CCC students Enrolled between 2010-2011 and 2014-2015 At least six years in system Outcomes through spring 2016 Three subgroups: Transfer Achievers (583,074) Students At the Gate (135,557) Students Near the Gate (156,999) Almost 300,000 CCC students over a recent five-year period who have demonstrated the determination and academic ability to transfer did not make it through the gate (n=292,556).

Transfer Achievers Two-thirds of sample achieved transfer Majority transferred without a degree or certificate (68.5%, n=399,635)

Students At the Gate Nearly 136,000 stopped at the gate Over half of transfer-ready students left without a college credential More likely to be Latino—regardless of gender Talk about GP: Students not on a path

Students Near the Gate Nearly 157,000 got near the gate 92% needed to complete math requirements in order to transfer Nearly half exited the system without a college credential Time is the enemy; students who did not transfer within a year of becoming transfer-ready were less likely to transition to university Again, reference GP

Role of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Region 75% of African-American students who make it near or at the gate, made it through the gate (yet most do not make it near, at, or through the gate) Latino male students and Native-American female students were less likely to transfer Latino students were also more likely to earn an AD-T, but halt their transfer journey Inland Empire students were least likely to make it through the transfer gate Note on Latino student stat: Latino students more likely to earn their AD-T which has helped increase transfer among this group though Latino students also more likely to stop at the gate with their AD-T Note on gender differences: Larger proportion of males do not make it to this high leverage population. Note on African American stat: Larger proportion of African American students do not make it to this high leverage population.

Small Group Discussion Why don’t students who are at or near the gate transfer to the Candy Castle? What are some potential barriers at each pillar of the Guided Pathways Framework? Clarify Intake Support Learning Help contextualize findings.

Getting Better Directions Phase II Research

Phase II Research Questions Why do so many students who are close to achieving their transfer goal stop short of making this transition? What can we do to help students who are at or near the gate transfer? What is holding back different student groups, and how can we help them continue their journey? What is impacting IE and CV students’ transfer progress, and what strategies can be pursued to increase their success?

Phase II Approach Gather information from students themselves Secure insights to help refine existing strategies and inform new efforts to to increase transfer for students who are at or near the gate Further explore the interplay between race, gender, and region in students’ transfer experience Analyze the role of other factors such as GPA, financial aid, and full-time enrollment in students’ pursuit of transfer

Next Steps Disseminate Phase I findings Reach out to 25 colleges to participate in Phase II student perspective research Launch Phase II research in spring 2018

For more information on the Through the Gate Study Dr. Kristen Fong Project Director kfong@rpgroup.org Refer to RP Group website www.rpgroup.org/through-the-gate #StudentsThroughtheGate

Thank you!