Fostering Transfer Student Success
at
Baylor University
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Baylor University: Pro Ecclesia, Pro
Texana
‣ Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas
‣ 735-acre campus is located in Central Texas on the banks of the
Brazos River
‣ Affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (largest
Baptist university in the world) and oldest institution in the state
‣ Undergraduate enrollment of approximately 11,000 students
‣ 150 Baccalaureate degree programs
‣ Undergraduate costs for 2008-2009 are $35,472
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
General Enrollment Profile
‣ 80% of students come from within Texas
‣ Students come from all 50 states and 70 countries – California,
Colorado, Louisiana
‣ 2007 First-Year Cohort - SAT score of 1219, ACT score of 26
‣ Since 1999, the average SAT for entering FYS has risen 50
points
‣ 2007 incoming class of 3,184 (2,732 FY & 452 Transfer)
‣ Total minority enrollment of 28% (Hispanic, Asian/Pacific
Islander, African American/Black)
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Fall 2008 Transfer Enrollment Profile
‣ 404 new transfer students
‣ 50.2% entered Baylor as sophomores
‣ 59% females
‣ 33% from racial or ethnic minority groups
‣ 35% Baptist religious affiliation
‣ 8.9% resident or nonresident aliens,
representing 19 foreign countries
‣ 78% listed permanent address in Texas
‣ Mean SAT of 1115 and mean ACT of 23
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Top 5 Transfer Colleges of New Transfers
Fall 2008
‣ McClennan Community College – 53
‣ Dallas County Community College District – 30
‣ Collin County Community College – 22
‣ Lone Star College System – 15
‣ Blinn College - 11
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Retention Data of New Transfers
‣ Fall 2004 to Fall 2005 – 76.7%
‣ Fall 2005 to Fall 2006 – 77.7%
‣ Fall 2006 to Fall 2007 – 76.1%
‣ Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 – 77.9% *
‣ Fall 2004 to Spring 2005 – 89.4%
‣ Fall 2005 to Spring 2006 – 89.8%
‣ Fall 2006 to Spring 2007 – 87.6%
‣ Fall 2007 to Spring 2008 – 90.0% *
‣ Fall 2008 to Spring 2009 – 89.6%
(as of 1.20.09)
Baylor University
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Transfer Orientation
Summer Orientation for Transfer Students
o June – 2-day program for students & family members
o Information Sessions
o Advising
o Registration
o Welcome messages from Baylor faculty and staff
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Getting Your Bearings
‣ Personal Effectiveness Skills Course
o
o
o
One hour, elective credit
Six 50-minute meetings beginning first week of classes
Curriculum
•
•
•
•
•
•
o
Baylor Academic Policies
Baylor Culture and Traditions
Foster Success Center Resources
Time Management and Study Skills
Baylor Service and Social Organizations
The Best of Baylor Campus Tour
Value to Participants (28 in first group)
•
“You gave us the answers before we knew the questions to ask.”
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Baylor Transfer Council
‣
Baylor Transfer Council Focus Group
o
o
o
o
o
o
Application Process Difficult
Financial Aid Process Relatively Simple
Housing – Particularly difficult for on-campus facilities
Baylor Transfer Council especially helpful
Transfer students feel “pushed aside” for freshmen
Older students have already formed groups
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
BU 1000
‣ Fall Semester
o
o
o
o
o
Piggy-backed on to University 1000 Freshman
Program
Seven 50-minute meetings beginning in Welcome
Week
Small groups (15-20) facilitated by staff or faculty
member
Transfer Welcome Dinner during Welcome Week
Curriculum similar to “Getting Your Bearings” course
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
BU 1000 Outcomes
‣
BU 1000 Survey
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
BU 1000 too closely tied to freshman programming
Need for more transfer-specific scholarships
Too few transfer-specific social activities throughout semester
Need more campus tours
Too few hours transfer toward Baylor degree or major credit
Of the 404 transfers enrolled Fall 2008, 262 took Chapel/BU 1000 in
the fall semester.
Of those 262, 240 are registered for the Spring 2009 term and their
overall average GPA for the Fall was 2.78.
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Long Range Plans
‣ Course Articulation
o
o
o
More specific messaging to prospective students
Review common course numbering system courses
to determine if additional courses can be approved
Present findings on articulation study to Regents
‣ On-campus Housing
‣ BU 1000 offered as a 3-hour graded course
‣ Transfer Welcome Center
‣ State Private University Consortium
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Best Practices to Foster Transfer Success
‣ Organization? Staffing?
‣ Pre-enrollment communication? Recruitment messaging?
‣ Financial incentives?
‣ Admission process?
‣ Articulation agreements?
‣ On-campus accommodations?
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University
Best Practices continued
‣ Academic Advisement?
‣ Transition Programming?
‣ Academic & Social Integration?
‣ Academic Support?
‣ Transfer Year Experience?
‣ Assessment?
Baylor University
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Questions?
Doriss Hambrick
Academic Support Advisor
254.710.3828
doriss_hambrick@baylor.edu
Brandon Miller
AVP of Student Success
254.710.8728
brandon_miller@baylor.edu
SuccessCenter
PAUL L. FOSTER
Baylor University