Bibliography: Advising Transfer Students

Borden, V.M.H. (2004, March/April). Accommodating Student Swirl: When Traditional

              Traditional Students Are No Longer the Tradition. Change , 10-17.

              This article provides a solid case for institutions to review their programs, policies, and practices, which are normally developed within a context of "linear matriculation."   The author cites a description of eight multi-dimensional attendance patterns, which characterize various forms of "swirling" and which constitute a significant portion of the college student population.   He describes the differences in four mechanisms (student tracking, assimilation programs, collaborative development of standards and learning outcomes, and competency assessment) between institutions focused on linear-progression and those focused on swirling.

British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer ( www.bccat.bc.ca )

              This Council is designed to provide leadership and direction in facilitating articulation, transfer, and admission of community college students into the colleges and universities of British Columbia.   The Council conducts and reports research and publishes a number of newsletters, discussion papers, and a handbook for potential transfer students.   These reports are available on the Web site.

Carlan, P.E. & Byxbe, F.R. (2000). Community Colleges Under the Microscope: An Analysis of Performance Predictors for Native and Transfer Students. Community College Review , 28, 27-42.

              The authors report on their study of the academic performance of community college transfers, as compared to native students.   They acknowledge the "transfer shock" syndrome, and they controlled for the many demographic and performance variables that could affect performance at the four-year institution.   The rigor with which they conducted the study supports their conclusions and serves to dispel some of the criticisms about community college preparation for the four-year transfer environment and provides a comprehensive framework for conducting such studies.

Colquitt, L.L. (2004, February). Tau Sigma National Honor Society . Paper presented at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Dallas, TX.

              "Tau Sigma is an academic honor society designed specifically to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students."   Chartered in 1999, the Society has established 19 chapters in 15 states and has over 2700 members.   Additional information is available on the Web site at www.auburn.edu/tausigma or directly from Dr. L. Lee Colquitt, Executive Director, Tau Sigma, 303 Business Building, Auburn, AL 36849 or (334) 844-4960.

Jacobs, B.C. (Managing Ed.). (2004). The College Transfer Student in America: The Forgotten Student. Washington, DC: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

              The 13 chapters in this book provide a wide range of issues, descriptions of programs, research findings, and other resources that relate to transfer students.   Various authors address topics from admissions through alumni development.   Enrollment management, orientation, and articulation agreements are only a few of the topics covered.   The two appendices, on statewide articulation Web sites and the Joint Statement on the Transfer and Award of Credit, are excellent resources.

King, M.C., Kerr, T.K., & Grites, T.J. (Eds.). (2004, in press). Advising Transfer Students. Manhattan, KS: The National Academic Advising Association.

              The forthcoming NACADA monograph addresses many of the issues that relate specifically to the academic advising process for transfer students.   The ten chapters provide descriptions of the issues facing transfer students, the results of a survey about orientation services and programs for them, the challenges of advising certain special populations of transfer students, statewide and technological resources to assist transfer students, and recommendations for ongoing assessment and improvement of academic advising for them.

Laanan, F.S. (Ed.) (2001). Transfer Students: Trends and Issues . New Directions for Community Colleges, no. 114, Vol 30, No. 2. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

              This nine chapter volume in the New Directions series include both conceptual overviews and specific institutional examples in the two-year to four-year transfer process.   Adjustment of transfer students, barriers to the transfer process, transition issues, and leadership roles are described in the broader sense.   Honors Programs, specific articulation efforts, and minority transfer students are some of the individual topics included.   The chapter on research designs for studying transfer students is especially informative.