Profile of BC College Transfer Students Admitted to the University of Northern British Columbia 2003/04 to 2007/08

Profile of BC College Transfer Students Admitted to the University of Northern British Columbia 2003/04 to 2007/08 Prepared by: Linda Kupp & David Zajac, Institutional Analysis, Information & Technology Services, University of Northern British Columbia Profile of BC College Transfer StudentsA dmitted to the University of Northern British Columbia, 2003/04 to 2007/08 © Copyright 2009 by the British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer. BCCAT is the official mark of the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer, as published by the Registrar of Trade-marks of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. This Report is also available in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (pdf), from BCCAT Online, the Internet service of the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer: www.bccat.ca. Photocopying and further distribution of this document is permitted. Please credit source. Prepared by: Linda Kupp & David Zajac Institutional Analysis, Information and Technology Services University of Northern British Columbia 709 – 555 Seymour Street Vancouver BC Canada V6B 3H6 bccat.ca | [email protected] t 604 412 7700 | f 604 683 0576 Table of Contents Part 1. Introduction 1 Part 2. Definitions 1 Part 3. Analyses 4 3.1 Profile of BC College Transfer Students 4 3.1.1 Transfer Institution and Fiscal Year of Admission 4 3.1.2 Transfer Credits at Admission 5 3.1.3 Credits Taken in First Semester 5 3.1.4 Credential Sought in First Semester 5 3.1.5 Program of Study in First Semester 6 3.1.6 Age 6 3.1.7 Gender 6 3.2 Academic Performance of BC College Transfer Students 6 3.2.1 Admission GPA 6 3.2.2 Academic Performance 7 3.2.3 Grades in Selected Courses 7 3.2.4 Degree Completion Rate 7 3.3. Profile of BC College Transfer Students Who Completed a Program 8 3.3.1 Academic Performance 8 3.3.2 Credential Awarded 8 3.3.3 Program Completed 9 Tables and Figures 11 Table 3.1.1 Transfer Institution and Fiscal Year of Admission 12 Figure 3.1.1 Transfer Institutions 13 Table 3.1.2 Transfer Credits at Admission 14 Figure 3.1.2 Transfer Credits at Admission 14 Table 3.1.3A Credits Taken in First Semester 15 Figure 3.1.3A Credits Taken in First Semester 15 Table 3.1.3B Student Status in First Semester 16 Figure 3.1.3B Student Status in First Semester 16 Table 3.1.4 Credential Sought in First Semester 17 Table 3.1.4B Credential Sought in First Semester (summary) 18 Figure 3.1.4B Credential Sought in First Semester (summary) 18 Table 3.1.5 Program of Study in First Semester 19 Figure 3.1.5 Program of Study in First Semester 22 Table 3.1.6 Age 23 Figure 3.1.6 Age 23 Table 3.1.7 Gender 24 Figure 3.1.7 Gender 24 Table 3.2.1 Admission GPA 25 Figure 3.2.1 Admission GPA 25 Table 3.2.2 Academic Performance 26 Figure 3.2.2 Academic Performance 26 Table 3.2.3A Course Grades 27 Table 3.2.3B Course Grades Comparison 43 Table 3.2.4 Degree Completion Rate 44 Table 3.3.1 Academic Performance of Completers 46 Figure 3.3.1 Academic Performance of Completers 46 Table 3.3.2 Credentials Awarded 47 Figure 3.3.2 Credentials Awarded 47 Table 3.3.3 Program Completed 48 Appendix A Course List 51 Part 1. Introduction This report provides a profile of undergraduate transfer students admitted to the University of Northern British Columbia from British Columbia colleges over the five-year fiscal period, 2003- 04 to 2007-08 (Summer 2003 to Winter 2008). It includes a general profile of BC college transfer students, their academic performance while at UNBC, and a profile of those who completed a program at UNBC during that time period. Throughout the report, regional comparisons are shown and, where appropriate, comparisons with students admitted from British Columbia high schools are provided. The report ends with a series of tables and figures that display the statistics. This is the sequel report to “Profile of BC College Transfer Students and Profile of New Students Admitted to the University of Northern British Columbia from 1998-99 to 2002-03”. Part 2. Definitions Definitions of the terms used in this report are given below. BC college transfer student A student admitted based on credits transferred to UNBC from a British Columbia college, British Columbia university college, or British Columbia specialized institution (see “Transfer institution”). Generally, a minimum of 15 credits of acceptable course work that was completed within the past 10 years must be presented. The minimum transfer cumulative grade point average (CGPA) required is 2.00 or C (65%), calculated on credits earned from all previous post-secondary institutions attended. Students may be eligible to receive up to 90 hours of transfer credit from a recognized sending institution. A BC college transfer student was enrolled on the official enrolment date in their first semester at UNBC. They may have also transferred credits from other post-secondary institutions, e.g. a BC university and/or an institution outside of British Columbia. These transfer credits were included. Note: BC college transfer students who did not have an admission GPA or a transfer institution were excluded from this report. BC high school student A student admitted on the basis of BC secondary school completion or one who was attending a BC high school when they applied to UNBC. They were enrolled on the official enrolment date in their first semester at UNBC. Note: This report includes 2 students who were first admitted to UNBC as a BC high school student. Then several semesters later within the 5 year period of this report, they were admitted to UNBC as a BC college transfer student. These students were counted in both groups – as BC high school students and as BC college transfer students. University of Northern British Columbia February 2009 Page 1 of 58 Completer, Degree completion, Average number of semesters to completion A completer was a graduate; a student who satisfactorily completed a UNBC baccalaureate degree and was awarded the credential. A student may have completed a different credential than the one in which they were initially enrolled. When looking at degree completion rates, BC college transfer students who were admitted in 2003-04 and 2004-05 – the first 2 years of this report – were followed through from admission to completion (or graduation). This allowed enough time for these transfer students to complete their UNBC program within the 5-year time frame of this report. The number of semesters completers were enrolled was calculated, then the cumulative average was computed to provide the average number of semesters to completion. Note: This section of the report excluded 4 BC college transfer students who completed a certificate. Course grade Students' final letter grades for each course were converted to grade point, as outlined in the scale below, then grade averages were calculated for each class level (see also “GPA”). Average grades for 400 level classes were not reported due to low enrolment. letter grade grade point class level A+ 4.33 100 level courses numbered 100 to 199 A 4.00 200 level courses numbered 200 to 299 A- 3.67 300 level courses numbered 300 to 399 B+ 3.33 400 level excluded B 3.00 B- 2.67 C+ 2.33 C 2.00 C- 1.67 D+ 1.33 D 1.00 D- 0.67 F 0.00 NGR excluded P excluded W excluded WE excluded Credential sought Undergraduate degree, or certificate, or diploma in which students were initially enrolled in their first semester. They may have completed a different credential than the one in which they were initially enrolled. Credits Transferred All credits that BC college transfer students transferred to UNBC were included – from BC colleges and from other post-secondary institutions, e.g. BC universities, institutions outside of British Columbia. For the purposes of this report, the student’s transfer institution was the one University of Northern British Columbia February 2009 Page 2 of 58 in British Columbia from which the most credits were transferred at admission. All credits transferred were then attributed to this institution. GPA (Grade Point Average) GPA is a method of expressing a student's academic performance as a numerical value. It is calculated from grades received in courses. In this report, GPA is shown at 4 points in time – upon admission, after first semester, after the student completed 30 credits, and at completion (see also Course grade). Program of study At UNBC, some programs contain more than one undergraduate major (or specific area of study), e.g. the Business program includes Accounting, Finance, General Business, International Business, and Marketing. A student may declare a different major at any time during their enrolment at UNBC, and may consequently change their program of study. Semester, Average number of credits per semester UNBC operates on a 3 semester system. A fiscal year includes Summer semester, Fall semester, and Winter semester. Undergraduate students’ normal enrolment year is 2 semesters of attendance. The number of credits per semester was summed for all of the courses that each student was enrolled in and then the cumulative average was computed. Student status Full-time status was assigned to undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credits in a semester. Transfer institution In the five-year time period of this report, BC college transfer students were admitted to UNBC from 20 different institutions. The institutions were organized into regions by their location in British Columbia.

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