Presentation Transcript

1. Bluegrass Community & Technical College Transfer Center

   By Janie Thomas Research Analyst & Catharine Penfold Navarro Transfer Center Director
2. Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) Nationally ranked Ranked 18th in the 2008 Community College Week Magazine’s list of Top 100 Associate Degree Producers BCTC achieved the ranking in both “One-Year Certificates – All Disciplines” and “Two-Year Certificates – All Disciplines,” according to the magazine Top transfer college in Kentucky Community & Technical College System 1,086 students in 2006/07 Top feeder school for University of Kentucky Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky State University Northern Kentucky University
3. Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) Located in Central Kentucky Six campuses spread throughout the Bluegrass district More than 11,000 full- and part-time students Programs Certificate Diploma Associate’s degrees transfer programs Part of the larger Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS)
4. U.S. Department of Education Title III Grant Project goal To improve the transfer rate of BCTC students to four-year institutions by expanding services through a Transfer Center Funding Title III Grant, U.S. Department of Education Strengthening institutions Five-Year Grant 2005-2010 Total Amount $1,467,023
5. BCTC Transfer Center Promotes transfer of BCTC students to four-year institutions Located on Cooper Campus Services offered to students on all BCTC campuses The first Transfer Center located in a community college in Kentucky
6. Transfer Center Models Student Development Model Documents Model Academic Model
7. Transfer Center Models-Student Development Model Concentrates on advising students about Criteria for transfer Transfer opportunities Academic plans and course selection Campus visits Costs Scholarships and financial aid
8. Transfer Center Model-Documents Model Concentrates on developing and maintaining formal or official agreements related to course equivalencies articulation agreements 2+ 2 programs State or legislative reports related to transfer persistence and academic performance.
9. Transfer Center Model-Academic Model Concentrates on faculty to faculty collaborative efforts to align courses and programs reach common understandings within disciplines about expected content and rigor at lower division level bridge understanding between two- and four-year institutions.
10. Bluegrass Community & Technical College Transfer Center Primarily-Student Development Model Focus on advising students through all phases of the transfer process Secondarily-Documents Model Focus on developing and maintaining transfer agreements between two- and four-year institutions, and promoting Kentucky’s General Education Certified agreement for transfer students
11. Success of the BCTC Transfer Center: Four Key Elements Strong Transfer Center team Collaboration with key stakeholders Well-defined goals and objectives Effective use of evaluation and assessment
12. Transfer Center Team Grant Management Project Director (VP for Student Development and Enrollment Services) Transfer Center Team Director Associate Director Research Analyst Transfer Advisor Administrative Assistant Onsite Transfer Advisors University of Kentucky Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky State University
13. Transfer Center Team Structure Project Director University of Kentucky Transfer Advisor Eastern Kentucky University Transfer Advisor Transfer Center Director Kentucky State University Transfer Advisor Associate Director Research Analyst Transfer Advisor Administrative Assistant
14. Strong Transfer Center Team Dedicated transfer advisors Sole job responsibility is to facilitate successful transfer of students Focus on advising for timely completion of associate’s degree and preparation for transfer More than 1,500 student appointments in 2007-2008 Grant Year 3 Experienced staff with education and skills in Research Program development Administration Event planning
15. Collaboration External Stakeholders Federal government (funding) State government (Council on Postsecondary Education) Four-year institutions Internal Stakeholders Students Staff Administration Faculty
16. Stakeholders in the BCTC Transfer Center
17. Collaboration with Four-Year Institutions Transfer Scholarships Transfer Agreements University of Kentucky (BCTC Blue+) Eastern Kentucky University (BCTC Colonel) Strong collaborative relationships with other institutions Advisors, Admissions personnel, Faculty Top partner schools University of Kentucky Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky State University Morehead State University University of Louisville Northern Kentucky University
18. Well-defined Goals Well-defined goals and objectives Direction for Transfer Center team members Measurable outcomes
19. Evaluation and Assessment Integration of scholarly research into program development and evaluation Effectively measure student needs and satisfaction Measure progress and accomplishments of the Transfer Center Ongoing assessment of student satisfaction: 90% satisfaction rate with transfer advising Ongoing calculation of transfer rates Focus group studies Evaluating student perceptions Evaluating publications, website
20. Measuring Transfer Aspirations of BCTC Students Student Needs Survey Given to incoming freshmen 2007 Findings Transferring to a four year institutions Primary goal for 65% Secondary goal for 20% Obtaining an associate’s degree Primary goal for 65% Secondary goal for 24% Entering freshmen at BCTC have strong transfer aspirations
21. BCTC Transfer Center Objectives and Challenges Challenge Total campus involvement in the grant objective of improving student services through the establishment of a Transfer Center Successes Conducted workshops for faculty advisors Established Transfer Center Action Team Established Rebuilding Strengthening Ties Action Team with university Presentations made to all academic divisions and departments Challenge Increase the number of student appointments to 500 Success 2,410 completed student appointments from 2/06 to 8/08
22. BCTC Transfer Center Objectives and Challenges Challenge Marketing the new Transfer Center Successes Conducted transfer events Developed marketing tools (brochures, posters, signs, banners) Developed website Acquired materials for Center (catalogs, applications, etc.) Presentations at faculty/staff events Presentations at division meetings Faculty/Advisor training each semester
23. BCTC Transfer Center Objectives and Challenges Challenge Serving students on multiple campuses Successes Email and phone advising e-Transfer Centers (electronic kiosks) Publications from four-year institutions Marquees, Digital signage, Website Travelling Transfer Center Weekly advising at two regional campuses
24. BCTC Transfer Center Objectives and Challenges Challenge Increase the transfer rate of BCTC students to four-year institutions Successes Increase in Transfer Rate Transfer Rate 2004/05: 8.4% Transfer Rate 2006/07: 9.4% Increase in Transfer Numbers Transfer Numbers 2004/05: 1,042 Transfer Numbers 2006/07: 1,086 Increase despite enrollment decrease During the same period of time, enrollment dropped from 12,361 to 11,527 students or roughly a 7% decrease in enrollment numbers
25. BCTC Transfer Center Objectives and Challenges Challenge Provide effective advising to students in order to increase transfer rate of students who are advised in the Transfer Center Successes High transfer rate for students advised in Transfer Center Transfer rate of 49% for students advised in Transfer Center in 2005/06 over three semesters (fall 2006, spring 2007, & fall 2007) Transfer rate of 41% for students advised in Transfer Center in 2006/07 over 1 semester (fall 2007)
26. BCTC Transfer Center Objectives and Challenges Challenge Student users of services provided by the Transfer Center will rate their satisfaction at the 90% level Successes Overall satisfaction with transfer advising is rated at 90% Event satisfaction is rated at 100% for 18 of 20 events and 90 % and 92% for the remaining events Focus Group Studies found students’ experiences with transfer advising has been informative, resourceful, and friendly Students are very satisfied with Transfer Center services
27. Implications and Recommendations Transferring students to four-year institutions is a part of the mission for Bluegrass Community & Technical College, as well as part of the state and federal initiatives for bachelor’s degree attainment. The Transfer Center can serve as a model for other educational institutions to follow.
28. Contact Information Transfer Center 100B AT Building, 470 Cooper Drive Lexington, Ky. 40506-0235 Telephone-(859) 246-4620 Fax-(859) 246-4625 Toll Free-1-866-774-4872 ext. 54620 Email- BCTC_TransferCenter@kctcs.edu Website-www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/sa/transfercenter Director-Catherine Penfold Navarro Research Analyst-Janie Thomas
29. Thank you for Attending!! Have a Great Day!