Pathways and Barriers to Undergraduate Education: The case of art & design programs Deanne Fisher Associate Vice-President, Students OCAD March 1, 2013

OCAD U: the University of the Imagination 4,000+ students in 13 undergraduate programs new admits each year, about 200 with transfer credit OCAD UNIVERSITY2

PATHWAYS TO OCAD U OCAD UNIVERSITY3 Portfolio-based admissions Advanced standing Course-by-course credit transfer Articulation agreements with colleges

4 NSSE 2011 Since graduating from high school, which of the following types of schools have you attended other than the one you are attending now? [Senior year respondents]

5 NSSE 2011 Since graduating from high school, which of the following types of schools have you attended other than the one you are attending now? [Senior Year respondents]

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12 SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSFER STUDENTS 1.Do transfer students commit/engage/complete/succeed? 2.What motivates transfer students to come to OCAD U? 3.What is their experience of the transfer process? 4.Do we need to build more supports for transfer students?

Mix of quantitative and qualitative methods Funded by CUCC/ONCAT in January 2012 Research team: Mary Wilson, Director of the Centre for Innovation in Art & Design Education Eric Nay, Associate Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Science Laura Wood, Manager, Institutional Analysis Deanne Fisher, Associate Vice-President, Students Polly Buechel, Administrative Coordinator 4 Research Assistants James D.A. Parker, Robyn Taylor, Holly Kristensen from Trent University Pathways and Barriers to Art & Design Undergraduate Education for Students with Previous College or University Experience OCAD UNIVERSITY7

Interior work by Aamna Muzaffar ‘12 Comparing high school entrants to college and university transfers using NSSE Among senior year students: Time Usage: High school entrants spent more time than college and university entrants relaxing or socializing. Academic Experiences: College and university entrants were more likely than high school entrants to participate in class discussions. Academic Performance: No significant difference in grades between the three groups

Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12 QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY 39 interviews over a two-week period: 21 with previous university experience –Mean age: 27 –45% male –Transfer credits of between.5 and 6.5 –Most not from art & design programs 18 with Ontario college experience –Mean age: 23 –22% male –Transfer credits of between 1.0 and 7.5 –Majority from art & design programs –Majority had completed college programs OCAD UNIVERSITY9

10 BRIAN MORE LIVING WITH THE PAIN OF REGRET

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12 OCAD UNIVERSITY11 DECISION FACTORS Original choices of institution were based on: Interest/passion in the subject Location (either to get away from home or to stay close to home) Uncertainty/meeting expectations of others (BA as the default) As a means of getting into OCAD U

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12 OCAD UNIVERSITY12 TRANSFER PROCESS Pain points in the process include: Difficulty locating the information Length of time to get an answer regarding transfer credits Securing the required documents (syllabi) The results: most students from both cohorts were disappointed with the credits granted

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12 Among university transfers: Students experience difficulty moving from the formulaic to the emotionally intense Students indicated they were unlikely to take advantage of any supports to help with this OCAD UNIVERSITY13 TRANSITION

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12 Among college transfers: Students experience difficulty moving from the concrete to the abstract Students indicated an interest in supports to help with this OCAD UNIVERSITY14 TRANSITION

Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12 OCAD UNIVERSITY15 IMPLICATIONS + DISCUSSION

Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12 TRANSFER AS PART OF ENROLMENT STRATEGY OCAD UNIVERSITY16

Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12 TRANSFER PROCESS OCAD UNIVERSITY17

Interior work by Erin Loree ‘12 SUPPORT FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS OCAD UNIVERSITY18

THANK YOU OCAD UNIVERSITY19 Deanne Fisher Associate Vice-President, Students OCAD University (416) x.