ERIC Number: ED356818
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1993-Mar
Pages: 9
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Analyzing the Relation between Curricular Composition and Transfer Rates in the Community Colleges.
Armstrong, William B.
A study was performed to test the association between the proportion of liberal arts course offerings and institutional transfer rate by merging the data on liberal arts offerings in the community colleges included in the 1991 National Community College Curriculum Study with the transfer rate data for these same colleges obtained from their participation in the 1992 Transfer Assembly. Data were matched for 52 colleges from around the country that had participated in both studies, and two analyses were performed. First, sample means were derived for both the transfer and liberal arts offerings ratios, with colleges being placed in low or high categories. This analysis indicated that for those community colleges with low transfer rates (i.e., below the sample mean), approximately 69% were also below the mean for the proportion of liberal arts offerings in the college, while 31.4% were above the sample mean. Similarly, for those colleges with high transfer rates, approximately 63% were high in liberal arts offerings, while 38% were classified as low. Second, a correlation analysis was performed to determine if variance in observed transfer rates could be explained by variance in the percent of liberal arts offerings. Results of this analysis indicated that while several variables are positively related to transfer rate, only the percent of liberal arts variable is related at a significant level. Although the percent of liberal arts course offerings at the colleges in the sample appear to be positively related to transfer rates, there are probably several other factors not specified that would probably explain greater variance in transfer than merely the proportion of liberal arts offerings. Data tables and 11 references are included. (MAB)
Descriptors: Articulation (Education), College Curriculum, College Outcomes Assessment, College Transfer Students, Community Colleges, Comparative Analysis, Correlation, Curriculum Research, Higher Education, Liberal Arts, Outcomes of Education, Predictive Validity, Rating Scales, Ratios (Mathematics), Relationship, Statistical Analysis, Transfer Programs, Transfer Rates (College), Two Year College Students, Two Year Colleges
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Forum of the Association for Institutional Research (33rd, Chicago, IL, May 16-19, 1993).