How Are Transfer Students Perceived? 8 th Annual Conference of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students

Introduction Karen Watson Director of Academic Support College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Participants Who are you? 2-Year School? 4-Year School?

Examples of Perceptions Mizzou Tiger Walk Establishing Transfer Orientation Separate from Freshman Orientation Transfer Student/Corps of Cadets Member/Naval ROTC Member

Discussion Questions Discuss in groups the questions on the pink handout. As you discuss the answers to the questions list of variables that can affect transfer students’ perceptions and our perceptions of transfer students

Theories That Include Our Variables To understand transfer students’ perceptions To understand the transfer transition To understand the role of others in the transition process

Baxter Magolda’s Theory of Self-Authorship Three Distinct Phases of Development The Crossroads Becoming the Author of One’s Life Internal Foundations

Wawrzynski & Pizzolato (2006) “As students move along the self authorship continuum, they move from feeling dissatisfied and in need of self-definition (The Crossroads), through actively working to develop internal perspectives and self- definition (Becoming the Author of One’s Life), to actually having a set of internally defined perspectives used to guide action and knowledge construction.”

Schlossberg’s Transition Theory Transition Phases Moving in, Moving Through, and Moving Out Four Major Factors that influence a person’s ability to cope with a transition Situation Self Support Strategies

SituationSelfSupportStrategies What kind of transition is it? Is it a positive, negative, expected, unexpected, desired or dreaded transition? Is it voluntary or imposed? What kind of strengths and weaknesses does the individual bring to the situation? Does he or she believe there are options? Is he or she optimistic? Personal and demographics (gender, age, health, socio- economic status, race, etc.) Does the person have support from family, friends, co- workers, and supervisors? In what ways do people give support? In what way do they hinder the person’s efforts to change? Does the person use several coping strategies or just one? Can the person creatively cope by changing the situation, changing the meaning of the situation or managing reactions to stress? (Santiago, 2004,

Schlossberg’s Marginality and Mattering Marginality – feeling that one does not fit in. Feelings of marginality produce feelings of self- consciousness. Feelings of self-consciousness then lead to an inability to perform at one’s usual ability level. Mattering – feeling that one belongs and matters to others. When present, mattering diminishes marginality and promotes a healthy and successful transition. Includes – Attention, Importance, Dependence, Appreciation, Ego Extension ( )

The Future Learn more about these theories and their application in my work with transfer students Utilizing theories to update current transfer programs in our college Utilize theories to plan and carry out new programs especially creating links with the Virginia Community Colleges