Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention

First-Generation Transfer Students' Perceptions

Implications for Retention and Success

Melissa Hawthorne

Adena Young

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jcotr.v17i2.2722

Keywords: First-generation, transfer, retention, community college, four-year university, Tinto's Model, Texas A&M University-Commerce, race, graduate, academic success

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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.