Teaching

The Transfer Student Transition: Factors Impacting the Experiences of Undergraduate Students Upon Transfer

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Abstract

Previous research has shown that the experiences of students that transfer from other two-year or fouryear institutions are different from students coming directly from high school. With the difference in experiences comes a demand for a variety of resources and availability of tools specific to transfer students. At Iowa State University (ISU) nearly a quarter of the undergraduate students are transfer students, making the transfer student experience especially important. Furthermore, transfer student retention rate at ISU was 3.79% lower than for directfrom- high-school students in 2017. Lower retention rate was the driving factor for the development of a survey instrument that would help us better understand the transfer experience. Themes collected from focus groups in 2017 provided the topics for this survey instrument. As a result of the survey instrument, factors that affect the transition of transfer students in the Animal Science Department, were identified. Data collected from this study and future related studies will be used to inform policy and procedures related to the transfer student transition at the departmental, college, and university level.

How to Cite:

Bundy, J. & Siberski, C., (2019) “The Transfer Student Transition: Factors Impacting the Experiences of Undergraduate Students Upon Transfer”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 16(1).