The Perceptions of Policymakers on the Transfer Pathway in Texas Public
THE PERCEPTIONS OF POLICYMAKERS ON THE TRANSFER PATHWAY IN TEXAS PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION Kimberly A. Faris Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS May 2016 APPROVED: Amy Fann, Major Professor Beverly Bower, Committee Member Marc Cutright, Committee Member Celia Williamson, Committee Member Daniel Chen, Program Coordinator for Higher Education Jan Holden, Chair of the Department of Counseling and Higher Education Jerry Thomas, Dean of the College of Education Costas Tsatsoulis, Interim Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School Faris, Kimberly. The Perceptions of Policymakers on the Transfer Pathway in Texas Public Higher Education. Doctor of Philosophy (Higher Education), May 2016, 272 pp., 1 table, references, 144 titles. Community college students transfer to public universities experiencing a pathway filled with complexity and inequity. Transfer students are not able to graduate at the same pace as native students at the university and complete their baccalaureate degrees 18% below the rate of native students. Policymakers have attempted to address the baccalaureate gap. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of Texas policymakers and policy influencers on the efficacy of policies intended to improve transfer outcomes. This study investigated what experience participants have with transfer policy, what their perceptions of the transfer pathway are, and how their voices can refine an understanding of policy development and ways to improve student persistence. Purposeful sampling was used to explore the perspectives of 14 Texas policymakers and those that influence policy. Findings revealed that significant gaps exist between expectations and student realities and that the completion agenda is driving policy decisions. Participants perceived that transfer students have been ignored in the completion metrics, which influence institutional priorities.
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