Year

2007

Season

Summer

Paper Type

Doctoral Dissertation

College

College of Education and Human Services

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Joyce T. Jones

Second Advisor

Dr. Larry G. Daniel

Third Advisor

Dr. Steven K. Paulson

Fourth Advisor

Dr. George Perkins

Fifth Advisor

Dr. Christine W. Webb

Department Chair

Dr. Joyce T. Jones

College Dean

Dr. Larry G. Daniel

Abstract

The purpose of this concurrent mixed methods study was to explore how well Florida's 2+2 articulation agreement and transfer student services meet the needs of students. Phase I employed quantitative methodology to compare the academic success and persistence to graduation of a single cohort (n = 2,612) of Florida public community college Associate in Arts graduates (n = 1,738) and native (n = 874) juniors (60-to-70 credit hours) who entered the same universities as FTIC. Discriminant analysis results yielded statistically significant differences in the academic success and persistence of community college transfer and native student graduates and dropouts. On average, native students graduated with twice as many lower level credit hours and cumulative credit hours than community college transfers. Discriminant analysis results did not yield appreciable differences in the final grade point averages of student graduates, indicating that community college transfer students performed just as well academically as native students. However, the results of the chi -square tests of independence indicated that a greater percentage of native students graduated and a greater percentage of community college transfer students dropped out of academic degree programs. These findings support the conclusion that community college students are as academically capable as native students but may benefit from services that promote student engagement.

The qualitative component provided a context for enhancing the interpretation of quantitative findings and for addressing the structure of articulation services, availability of transfer student services, compliance with the statewide articulation agreement, and advocacy of transfer students on each campus. Interviews with 15 current and previous administrators led to the identification of three significant issues related to the rapidly evolving universities and their primary feeder community colleges.

Included in

Education Commons

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