1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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?

7. 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.

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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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

13. Mapping the Transfer Landscape
Phase I Findings

14. 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?

15. 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

16. 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?

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

18. Study Sample 875,630 CCC students
Enrolled between and
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).

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Getting Better Directions
Phase II Research

25. 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?

26. 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

27. 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

28. For more information on the Through the Gate Study
Dr. Kristen Fong Project Director
Refer to RP Group website
#StudentsThroughtheGate

29. Thank you!