Nontraditional and Distance Education Students Transfer Symposium, 2014 Presented by Blair Hancock, Kathleen Lynch-Davis, and Tiffany Soiset-Sheaff

Presentation Overview Nontraditional student characteristics Nontraditional student continuum based on characteristics Appalachian State University snapshot data of nontraditional, transfer enrollment (Spring and Fall 2014) Community College transfer bound student population Appalachian State University program perspective Services to the main campus and distance education transfer student population at Appalachian State University 2

“Typical” Nontraditional Student 3

Nontraditional Defined Typically over the age of 24 Presence of one or more of the following seven characteristics: 1. At least one year between HS graduation and postsecondary enrollment 2. Long term postsecondary part-time enrollment 3. Full-time employment while enrolled (35 or more hours) 4. Classified as financially independent for financial aid purposes 5. Financially support dependents other than spouse 6. Single parent status 7. Lacking a traditional high school diploma (earned GED) 4(Horn & Carroll, 1996; Choy, 2002)

Nontraditional Continuum 5(Cash, 2013)

Appalachian Transfer Demographics (Spring & Fall 14) *From FAFSA data Spring & Fall 14 6(Langdon, 2014) 27% 5.7% 2.5% 25.5% 3.1% 7.7%

Nontraditional Transfer Populations (Spring & Fall 2014) 7(Langdon, 2014) 61% 20% Financially Independent 2% Age 24 and Over Has Children

Community College Perspective Wilkes CC Student Demographics WCC STUDENTS 2012 (2,291 FTE; 3,316 headcount) RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID 59% MARRIED28% W/ DEPENDENT CHILDREN 36% WHITE88.6% AGE-24 OR UNDER30% AGE % AGE- 35 OR OLDER50% TAKING ONLINE COURSE (1 or more) 47% 8

Community College Perspective Transfer student perspective Expectations Concerns Transfer pathways and barriers Student Experiences Academic Personal Institutional 9

Community College Students & Academic Terms… undergraduate, graduate baccalaureate, bachelor, associate associate in applied science vs. associate in arts or science major, minor, concentrations departments, colleges university vs. college arts & sciences liberal arts articulation MAR, MCR fees 10

Appalachian Program Perspective Advising Meet with advisor ASAP Transcript evaluation Acclimation to University Time management Expectations 11

Appalachian Program Perspective Belongingness Social circles Small fish, big pond Priorities and interest Other Concerns/Supports Study skills Personal/family Financial Technology 12

Transfer Services & Resources Office of Transfer Services Articulation of transfer credit Petition for credit Jump Start More information: transferservices.appstate.edu Transfer equivalency course search Preliminary credit evaluation And other campus resources available to all students (e.g. ODS, LAP, DegreeWorks) 13

Main Campus Transfer Services Transfer Track sessions (campus tours) Transfer Student Orientation Four year guides Residential Learning Community (RLC) for new transfers and Transfer Educators RLC for education majors. 14

Distance Education Services 13 undergraduate degree completion/transfer programs Dedicated Program Manager (PM), Assistant, and Faculty Advisor 3 centers: Burke, Hickory and Caldwell; PMs at each location Orientation tailored to program and delivery format Consortium Agreement for dual enrollment Library Services/ Distance Learning Librarian SmartThinking DE Student Advisory Committee 15

Summary Nontraditional student defined Appalachian State University and Wilkes Community College student demographics Community College perspective of transfer bound students Program perspective at Appalachian of transfer students Transfer services at Appalachian 16

Nontraditional Student Family 17

Questions? 18

References Cash, C. (2013). Breaking Down Barriers and Building Opportunities for Nontraditional Students [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from pdf pdf Choy, S. (2002).Findings from the condition of education 2002: Nontraditional undergraduates. U. S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES ). Retrieved from Horn, L., Carroll, C. D. (1996).Nontraditional undergraduates: Trends in enrollment from 1986 to 1992 and persistence and attainment among beginning postsecondary students. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES ). Retrieved from Langdon, H. (2014). Report_Fall2014_TransferData_SoisetSheaff. Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, Appalachian State University. 19