A study of the relative effect of the community college on transfer students: achievement and satisfaction

Abstract

In 1989, North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) conducted a study of transfer students to examine the relative effect of college attendance on academic achievement, transflr students' satisfaction with their college experience, and the college's fulfillment of general education goals. The study examined the length of exposure to college effects, as measured by total semester credit hours (SCH) earned, and student satisfaction with NIACC as determined through a mailed survey. Study findings, based on a 61.24% response rate, included the following: (1) a significant relationship existed between SCH earned at NIACC and the level of transfer student satisfaction with NIACC preparation for the workplace; (2) no significant difference or relationship was observed between SCH earned at NIACC and grade point average at graduation from a four-year institution; (3) no difference was observed between SCH and student satisfaction with the extent to which NIACC had prepared them as individuals, citizens, or family members; (4) the number of SCH earned at NIACC had little Cr' no influence to student outcomes. However, the data did prove that the length of community college attendance was not negatively related to selected student outcomes. Appendixes state the purposes and hypotheses of the study, list general education goals, report findings from previous studies on community college effects, present the demographic characteristics of NIACC students, and offer a summary and conclusions. (JMC) ****************************************************************!-****** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************u* A STUDY OF THE RELATIVE EFFECT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON TRANSFER STUDENTS: ACHIEVEMENT AND SATISFACTION ************************************************************ Presented at: The Annual Meeting of the Council of Universities and Colleges at the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges 70th Annual Convention Seattle, Washington April 22, 1990 ************************************************************ -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY D. J. Phelan TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CEN fER (ERIC).Daniel J. Phelan, Presenter North Iowa Area Community College Travis P. Kirkland, Co-Presenter Northeast Iowa Community College U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION flhh, P 0, E. Ow al.ondi Poseur( h and invo.ornen. E DUCATIC 'AL Elf SOURCES INFORMATION ..)( CENTER IERICi T,-,s 00,-,,ment 'Ids been pDFOCIu( PA as 'pc P.ved Itorr the Person Or organqabOn 0,.(rnat,ny .1 n M.nn, c hanges have been made to ,nprove eprOd,I.On d.ahly F.(nn!5 of ..e., or op.n.OnS S. al ed ,h thS(RX o meet do not nP(PSSanly tepreSt.n1 ott.( .a. OE RI raosnm cn Dnhry