Students’ Lived Experiences in Transferring Credits: A One-Time Opportunity to Increase Enrollment

As universities and colleges work with students to achieve their educational goals, policies need to be evaluated to better  implement transfer friendliness. UPCEA and StraighterLine partnered on developing a research survey to identify students’ lived experiences and perceptions regarding transferring institutions. The results of the study focus on students’ transfer behavior, motivations for transferring, important factors in making the decision to transfer, challenges in transferring, and the level of communication received from institutions during the transfer process. 

While the data yielded a number of insights, the study population was further segmented into four personas to highlight the differences in transfer experiences among the respondents. These personas demonstrate how students’ various lived experiences and perceptions around transferring influence the behaviors, motivations, and challenges of different types of transfer students.

Jim Fong, Founding Director of UPCEA's Center for Research and Strategy, and Dr. Amy Smith, Chief Learning Officer from StraighterLine, will share key findings and their insights into the empirical research, including the implications of the findings on higher education institutions.