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Description/Definition:
Universities in the state identify a cohort of Michigan community college transfers as well as a cohort of native students and compare their cumulative GPA. The purpose of this indicator is to provide a comparison of success at transfer institutions for community college transfer students and students native to the 4-year institution.
Methodology and Data Sources:
The sample consists of a cohort of Michigan community college transfers entering the university in the Fall.
Data is contingent upon cooperation of four-year colleges and universities. Universities must report information to each community college about transfer students, and about the ‘parallel proportion’ of university students.
Analysis compares the cumulative GPA of transfer students to the cumulative GPA of native students at the end of the academic year (Spring term). Cumulative GPA is based on total honor points and not an average of an average.
Data would be collected at the end of a typical university academic year and submitted electronically to each community college some time in late summer. Community college reports could then be available by the beginning of the succeeding calendar year.
Reporting Periods/Timelines:
March 1 for the preceding university academic year (approximately July 1 to June 30).
Special Conditions/Issues:
- Students who transfer with fewer than 15 credit hours or more than 62 credit hours are excluded from the analysis. GPA calculations based on fewer than 15 credits is viewed as an inappropriate statistic.
- If an individual transfers 15 or more credits from each of 2 or more community colleges, they should be included in the cohort of each sending school.
- The native student cumulative GPA includes all grades earned from beginning as freshman at the 4-year institution whereas the transfer student GPA includes only those grades earned at the 4-year institution. Thus, a comparison of the cumulative GPA of transfer and native students may be inherently biased.
Many community colleges commented that reporting was predicated upon the willingness of four-year colleges and universities to provide data.
Additional consideration may have to be given to the range of student credit hours considered in this analysis as some four programs allow transfer credit of 70 hours or more.
Work Group Members:
Dr. Frank Marczak, Chairman
MCCA/MSU President’s Collaboration Task Force
Pilot Project Colleges:
A committee of MCCA Presidents is working with MSU to pilot the electronic data exchange portion. Other pilots are to be determined.
Sample Format
The report includes a simple comparison of the cumulative GPA of transfers and native students with an August 1 reporting date. The report format is as follows:
Performance at Transfer Institution
ABC University Transfer Performance Report
for XYZ Community College (1996-97)
Transfer Students Native Students
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Total Students |
Cumulative GPA |
Total Students |
Cumulative GPA |
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History
Generally speaking, this core performance indicator requires universities in the state to identify a cohort of Michigan Community College transfers as well as a cohort of native students and compare their cumulative GPA. This indicator is recommended by the AACC and is a Michigan DMB community college performance outcome.
Background
There has been a voluntary effort underway for cooperative data exchange of transfer data between Michigan community colleges and 4yr. institutions. An electronic format for the data and exchange guidelines were established. This information was passed on to the MSU/MCCA Collaboration Task Force at the initiation of their effort.
Research Summary
In the capacity survey, only 2 of 26 community colleges indicated that they could report on this indicator with current resources and from existing data. Fourteen said that they would need additional resources and new data to complete this indicator.
Definitions
Community college transfer students must have successfully transferred a minimum of 15, but not more than 62 credit hours earned at the specific community college.
Native students cohort is defined as individuals who began their college education at the 4-year institutions as FTIACs (First Time In Any College) and who have completed a minimum of 15, but not more than 62 credit hours (at the university) as they enter the Fall term.
Estimated Cost of Pilot
Not known.
Conclusions
Those who have participated in voluntary data exchange between community colleges and some 4yr. institutions believe it is necessary for the MCCA to request full participation in this effort from presidents of the 4yr. institutions.
Recommendations for Performance Indicator:
Look to the MSU/MCCA President’s Collaboration Task Force for final status of this indicator.
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