Thesis
Successful transitions: horizontal transfer students and their experiences
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101052
Abstract
Horizontal transfer students, those who transfer from one four-year institution to another, are often overlooked in higher education theory and practice. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the transitional issues that horizontal transfers face throughout the transition. Because horizontal transfers are often overlooked, there is a need to better facilitate the transition to increase retention, and in order to do so, more must be learned about the horizontal transfer population. This study is based on the experiences of seven undergraduate, horizontal transfer students who were interviewed to provide their stories of transition to address the following research questions: 1. What are the experiences of horizontal transfer students? 2. How is successful transitioning defined by transfer students? 3. What student services offices aid in successful transfer student transitioning? Using Tinto's (1975) theory on student departure as a theoretical background. The findings from this study indicate that while horizontal transfers struggle initially with the transition, all students eventually integrated academically and socially; thereby solidifying their commitment to the institution and their goals for graduation. Students' responses also provided a solid framework for future programs to be put in place to help with transition and retention.
Metrics
12 File views/ downloads
38 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Successful transitions
- Creators
- Danielle Marie Ellzey
- Contributors
- Kelly Ward (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Educational Leadership, Sport Studies, and Educational/Counseling Psychology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525186701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis