Transfer Shock:
Is It Alive and
Well?
Dr. Eric Gumm
Abilene Christian University
NISTS 2010
Transfer Students
College enrollment of high school graduates has
risen over the past thirty years to greater than
40%
33% of all students will transfer at least once
and 20% will transfer two or more times
A growing number of students begin their
collegiate studies at a community college –
more than 42% at this point
Studies show that more than 71% of students
beginning at a community college plan to earn a
bachelor’s degree, which involves transferring
What is Transfer Shock?
How has it been defined?
A decrease in the transfer student’s
grade point average during their first
semester at the new institution, in
comparison to their grade point
average at their previous institution.
What is Transfer Shock?
Where has it been seen in the
literature?
Studies have indicated that students
lose about 1/3 of a grade point in
transferring
This has been seen over time:
1965
Hill,
Richardson & Doucette, 1980
Diaz, 1992
Carlan & Byxbe, 2000
Pennington, 2006
What is Transfer Shock?
Why does it matter or why should
you be concerned?
Student Success
Institutional Reputation
Retention and Persistence
Academic Integration
Research Question
The question we wanted
to address was - Is
“transfer shock” a valid
observation on our
campus?
Who is ACU?
Primarily residential, private, faith-based
university
Primarily regional draw, but students
from 49 states and 60 nations
Overall student body of approximately
4700
Average Incoming student class of 1100
Average entering transfer student cohort
of 140-160
Study Samples
We examined three cohorts of
incoming transfer students:
Fall 2007 – 133 transfer students
Fall 2008 – 127 transfer students
Fall 2009 – 171 transfer students
Data was collected from transcript
data from students
Factors Examined
Previous Institution GPA
First semester GPA at ACU
Earned Hours Transferred to ACU
Study Results
Overall Results by Cohort
Results by transfer hours
Results by transfer institution type
Results by previous GPA
Overall Study Results
2007 2008 2009
Overall
Cohort Cohort Cohort
Negative
Transfer
Shock 50% 52% 53% 52%
Study Results by Transfer
Hours
2007 2008 2009
Cohort Cohort Cohort
0-29
50% 51%
Hours
30-59
42% 48%
Hours
60-89
65% 65%
Hours
90+ Hours 45% 100%
Study Results by Transfer
Institution Type
2007 2008 2009
Cohort Cohort Cohort
Four-Year
21% 39%
Private
Four-Year
49% 44%
Public
Two-Year
59% 63%
College
Study Results by Previous GPA
2007 2008 2009
Cohort Cohort Cohort
<2.0 44% 25% 0%
2.0-2.49 55% 46% 47%
2.5-2.99 65% 51% 43%
3.0-3.49 38% 59% 68%
3.5-4.0 46% 55% 59%
GPA Trends
3.2
3.1
3
2007 Transfers
2.9 2008 Transfers
2009 Transfers
2.8
2.7
2.6
Transfer 2nd 4th Sem
GPA Sem GPA
GPA
GPA Recovery
2007 Transfers 2008 Transfers
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Return
Recovered
Continuing
Didn't
Shock
GPA
Implications of the Results
We have much work to do still
We need to put in place more
intentional academic support of our
transfer students
Some segments performed better or
worse than expected
Understanding transfer students is
still challenging and we need to do
more research to gain insights
Observations
Transfer Student Adjustment Issues
Different or more challenging
academic environment
Culture shock
Need to reestablish support networks
Significant cost increases
New rules, policies and expectations
Support Strategies
Transfer orientation sessions
Peer mentor programs
Transition courses specific for
transfer students
One-stop centers for transfers
Developmental academic advising
Financial aid programs for transfers
Strategies for Success
What differences exist between
your campus and those that your
students are transferring from?
What other strategies do you have
in place to assist students in
avoiding “transfer shock”?
Discussion
Have you conducted similar studies
on your campus? What were your
findings?
What are your thoughts or insights?
Conclusions
Istransfer shock still alive
and well among transfer
students?
Thank You!
Thank you so much for
joining us for today’s
presentation!