2. URSULA MCCLOY, PHD STUDENT PATHWAYS IN HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE JANUARY 26-27, 2012 MOBILITY IN ONTARIO’S PSE: CURRENT TRENDS Informing the Future of Higher Education

3. HEQCO'S LEGISLATION: TRANSFER AND MOBILITY "Functions Section 6(c) to conduct research on all aspects of post-secondary education with a view to helping the Council achieve its object, including research, (i) on the development and design of various models of post- secondary education, (ii) on the means of encouraging collaboration between various post-secondary educational institutions in general and in particular in matters relating to the recognition of such institutions of courses and programs of study provided at other such institutions",

4. PRESENTATION OUTLINE Focus on college to university pathway in Ontario: Recent mobility trends in Ontario – How many? Share/number of students transferring – Who are they? Program areas, region, demographics Student perceptions and experience of recent transfer students – Reasons for transfer – Timing of decision – Information sources – Satisfaction 4 Informing the Future of Higher Education

5. CURRENT TRENDS IN TRANSFER

6. PREVIOUS EDUCATION OF ONTARIO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (NSSE) 6 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Carleton NSSE Frequency tables http://oirp.carleton.ca/surveys/html/surveys.htm

7. COLLEGE GRADUATES ENROLLED IN DEGREE PROGRAMS: TRENDS 7 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

8. WHO TRANSFERS AND WHERE?

9. CHARACTERISTICS 9 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

10. HOW DOES TRANSFER RELATE TO ACCESS? Higher proportion of Aboriginal students, students with disabilities, low income, first generation students, students from smaller communities in Ontario colleges. These groups are not actually “underrepresented” in colleges relative to the Ontario population; but are in university. Would enhancing transfer increase access to university for these groups? – BC and American data indicate that these groups are in a higher proportion among transfer students. – Additionally, in Ontario’s destination based curriculum, course decisions as early as grade 9 can determine university access (need alternate pathway).

11. TRANSFER STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO BE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS

12. MAP OF ONTARIO COLLEGES BY REGION 12 Informing the Future of Higher Education

13. % OF GRADUATES WHO GO ON TO UNIVERSITY DEGREES: BY COLLEGE REGION 13 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

14. GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO TRANSFER REMAIN CLOSE TO HOME 14 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

15. DISTRIBUTION OF TRANSFERS RELATIVE TO UNIVERSITY ENROLMENT 15 Informing the Future of Higher Education

16. % OF GRADUATES WHO TRANSFER TO UNIVERSITY DEGREES: BY COLLEGE PROGRAM TYPE 16 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

17. COLLEGE TRANSFERS MORE LIKELY TO ENTER SOCIAL SCIENCES AND BUSINESS 17 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey; MTCU USER enrolment data

18. STUDENT PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCE 18 Informing the Future of Higher Education

19. REASONS FOR CONTINUING: % MAJOR REASON 19 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

20. DECISION TO TRANSFER OFTEN OCCURS AFTER ENTERING PROGRAM 20 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

21. WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED WITHOUT ATTENDING COLLEGE FIRST: SAMPLE PROGRAMS 21 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

22. INFORMATION SOURCES FOR GRADUATES WHO TRANSFER (2009-10) 22 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

23. SATISFACTION OF GRADUATES WHO TRANSFER 23 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

24. SATISFACTION WITH ACADEMIC PREPARATION DIFFERS BY PROGRAM 24 Informing the Future of Higher Education Source: Ontario Graduate Satisfaction Survey

25. WHAT DON’T WE KNOW? Unsuccessful transfers (those who attempted Students who transfer before completing college, and graduates who transfer after 6 months # Credits transferred related to program affinity Performance of students after transfer-need appropriate control group to evaluate Is transfer an effective way to increase degree attainment for underrepresented groups? 25 Informing the Future of Higher Education

26. NEXT STEPS Continue to track transfer trends using available datasets Incorporate OEN for tracking between institutions Potential to mine NSSE data to measure engagement for transfer students (can also look at immigrant, Aboriginal status, first generation) Track student performance through both sending and receiving institutions in articulated and non-articulated programs; controlling for previous academic (HS, previous PSE) socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics Work with other provinces for data on Ontario transfer students Look at transfer through learning outcomes perspective

27. Thank you! Ursula McCloy, PhD umccloy@heqco.ca www.heqco.ca 27 Informing the Future of Higher Education