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

2. 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”

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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%)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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?

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