Defining the Community College Transfer Student, Transfer Rates, and Data Sets. ASHE Annual Meeting Paper.

The study examined selected demographic and educational characteristics of transfer students attending Mason City, Iowa's North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) and the relative effect of college attendance on student academic achievement, student satisfaction with the college experience, and the college's fulfillment of general education goals. Surveys from 327 (NIACC) transfer students were analyzed and 17 hypotheses were tested. The NIACC transfer students showed no significant differences compared to other students in several areas, among them: (1) cumulative semester credit hours; (2) student satisfaction; (3) grade point average upon graduation from a baccalaureate-granting institution; and (4) satisfaction about their preparation for the work place and as individuals, family members, or citizens. Additionally, it was found that a high percentage of NIACC students persisted to complete a four-year degree, the quantity of semester hours earned at the community college had little or no relation to student outcomes, and the length of community college attendance was not detrimental to selected student outcomes. Considerations for future transfer student research are provided. An appendix details survey results and lists study hypotheses. Contains 10 references. (GLR)