ERIC Number: EJ1329684
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Apr
Pages: 32
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1527-9316
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Undergraduate Research Communities for Transfer Students: A Retention Model Based on Factors That Most Influence Student Success
Chamely-Wiik, Donna; Frazier, Evelyn; Meerof, Daniel; Merritt, Jordan; Johnson, Jodiene; Kwochka, William R.; Morrison-Shetlar, Alison I.; Aldarondo-Jeffries, Michael; Schneider, Kimberly R.
Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, v21 n1 p193-224 Apr 2021
Transfer students face many challenges integrating into a 4-year college that affect their retention and success, yet very little research has documented how to create wraparound programming to support them. There remains a need to establish retention models that are adaptable and can serve a variety of students and institutions. The Learning Environment and Academic Research Network (LEARN) Consortium, a partnership of Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida, and Western Carolina University whose focus is on engagement in undergraduate research, addressed this need by developing and testing T-LEARN, a new model for a sustainable science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) retention program specifically for transfer students who have transitioned to a university setting after receiving their associate's degree at a community college. The new model was developed by adapting a successful retention model for 1st-year students at the University of Central Florida centered around three main pillars: (1) academics/research; (2) mentoring; and (3) community building. In this paper, we describe the development of the T-LEARN model, outline the adaptations made to accommodate the specific needs of transfer students, and present 3 years of implementation data we analyzed to determine what factor(s) most impact transfer student retention and success. Our findings indicate that T-LEARN students' involvement in research during their 1st year was the most significant factor within the T-LEARN program that contributed to their academic success. Additionally, the majority of these students had continued to do research with the same LEARN program faculty mentor 1 year after the program ended.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Student Research, Communities of Practice, College Transfer Students, School Holding Power, Academic Achievement, Transfer Programs
Indiana University. 107 South Indiana Avenue, Bryan Hall 203B, Bloomington, IN 47405. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: josotl@iu.edu; Web site: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/josotl
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1524601; 1524666; 1524607
Author Affiliations: N/A