First-Generation Transfer Students' Perceptions

Abstract

Obtaining and excelling in a satisfying career often depends on a college education. While community and junior colleges afford greater opportunities to obtain a college education, these opportunities do not always translate into increased educational attainment as only 9.7% of students who enroll at a two-year college complete a bachelor's degree (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2003). Research indicated that a variety of factors contribute to the lower levels of academic success among community college students (Warburton, Bugarin, & Nunez, 2001). This study examines the impact of trasnferring from a two-year college on first-generation students' perceptions of university experiences. The results indicate that students who transfer from two-year colleges have lower levels of satisfaction with various aspects of the four-year university; this trend is particularly pronounced for first-generation minority students. According to Tinto's model of student matriculation, commitment to the university is key to successful matriculation, and student perceptions and experiences play a role in developing that commitment. Therefore, lower levels of satisfaction may contribute to the lower rates of graduation among these cohorts.