RP Conference | April 2011 | 1 CTE / Occupational Major Research Facilitators Eva Schiorring, RP Group Terrence Willett, Cal-PASS DESIGN, COMMUNICATE, ENGAGE

RP Conference | April 2011 | 2 Learning Outcomes Identify and use tools and strategies to research transfer in occupational majors Understand challenges and opportunities particular to such research Identify and use tools and strategies to engage stakeholders in research cycle Identify and use tools and strategies to communicate findings

RP Conference | April 2011 | 3 Agenda Why study transfer in Occupational Majors? Perspectives on OM Transfer Investigating OM Transfer Using Research Findings to Engage and Activate Stakeholders Group Think and Exchange of Ideas, Experience { }

RP Conference | April 2011 | 4 Case for OM Research: Labor Market Outlook Occupations With Largest # of Jobs Requiring BA

RP Conference | April 2011 | 5 Projected Growth Case for OM Research: Labor Market Outlook Fastest Growing Occupations Requiring BA

RP Conference | April 2011 | 6 Perspectives Two Paths to Transfer & Baccalaureate

RP Conference | April 2011 | 7 Perspectives Two Paths to Transfer & Baccalaureate

RP Conference | April 2011 | 8 Opportunities to Improve/Facilitate Transfer Expand pipeline Increase % pipeline participants who reach the transfer point Reduce time and increase speed to transfer Encourage students to complete as much coursework in major as possible prior to transfer Reduce time and units to completion of BA/BS

RP Conference | April 2011 | 9 Discussion Questions What data does your college collect to assess transfer in occupational majors? How is this data used? What other data would you like to have?

RP Conference | April 2011 | 10 Investigating OM Transfer Research Questions –Backward mapping the pathways of successful transfer students: What did they do? –Listening to successful transfer students: Why and how did they do it? What was the experience like? Advice? –Listening to and following would-be transfer students: Who is entering the PW? How prepared are they? What’s helping, complicating their progress?

RP Conference | April 2011 | 11 Investigating OM Transfer Research components –Quantitative Backward mapping path taken by degree completers –Qualitative Collecting and analyzing perspectives from transfer students Colleting and analyzing perspectives from those embarking on the transfer pathway

RP Conference | April 2011 | 12 Investigating OM Transfer: Quantitative Approach Using Cal-PASS Data System Backward Mapping from students earning Bachelor’s degree in selected disciplines Obtain permissions from colleges Define CIP and TOP codes for target disciplines Define inclusion criteria Determine variables of interest

RP Conference | April 2011 | ,731 Engr BA/BS’s 10,306 (58%) with any CC 4,219 (24%) with ≥ 12 trans CC units pre-Unv 5,966 Acct BA’s 4,108 (69%) with any CC 2,118 (36%) with ≥ 12 trans CC units pre-Unv 8,568 Nurs BA’s 5,361 (69%) with any CC 2,820 (33%) with ≥ 12 trans CC units pre-Unv

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RP Conference | April 2011 | 15 Engineering Unit Balance

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RP Conference | April 2011 | 17 Investigating OM Transfer: Quantitative Approach Selected Regression Findings African American students had fewer total CC units in Engineering Male students spent longer time to degree in all three disciplines Special admit students spent shorter time to degree in all three disciplines Higher percentage of total units taken in the major equals: –Shorter time to degree in Engineering and Nursing –Shorter time at university in Engineering –Fewer total CC units in all three disciplines –Fewer total university units in Engineering and Nursing –More likely to swirl in Engineering

RP Conference | April 2011 | 18 Investigating OM Transfer: Quantitative Approach Caveats Not all universities participate –Creates biases for certain disciplines –Limits representativeness No common university course coding schema Forward mapping desirable but difficult due to focus on GE courses at CC and lack of incentive for CC students to declare and update majors Ignored concurrent and post-graduate CC

RP Conference | April 2011 | 19 Investigating OM Transfer: Qualitative Approach Research Activities –Survey 600 transfer students –Focus groups/interviews with 140 students –Surveying 35 students beginning pathway –Follow and interview 16 students to document progress toward transfer

RP Conference | April 2011 | 20 Investigating OM Transfer: Qualitative Approach Transfer Student Perspective –Motivation –Factors supporting/compromising transfer –Use of support services –Ed plan –Advice to students, CCs, 4-years –Most/least prepared for 4-year

RP Conference | April 2011 | 21 Investigating OM Transfer: Qualitative Approach Accounting, Engineering & Nursing –4 CSUs –1 UC –2 private non-profit –1 private for-profit

RP Conference | April 2011 | 22 Investigating OM Transfer: Qualitative Approach –Invite faculty to add own questions –Test surveys with students –Distribute survey to students through known faculty –Adjust survey along the way (ed plan, BS courses) –Report back to faculty and students

RP Conference | April 2011 | 23 Investigating OM Transfer: Qualitative Approach Sample Findings/Transferred Students GPS and “yes you can” factors found across disciplines Students completed large number of courses that did not count toward transfer (Engr, Acct) Insufficient access to required courses major barrier (Engr) Students in private institutions more diverse, older, often don’t see themselves as transfer students

RP Conference | April 2011 | 24 Investigating OM Transfer: Qualitative Approach Intro to Engineering –How many are serious about transfer? –Why do so many not make it? –What can we do to increase success? –What happens on the way to transfer? Where are students derailed and why?

RP Conference | April 2011 | 25 Small Group Activity Consider a research design for an occupational program with a transfer component at your college. 1.What data do you think your college would want to have on transfer in OM? 2.What is a potential research question? 3.What resources do you have to answer the question? 4.What data sources would you use or create (qualitative and quantitative)? 5.What interaction would you have with stakeholders during various stages of the research cycle? RP Conference | April 2011 | 25

RP Conference | April 2011 | 26 Using Research Findings to Engage and Activate Stakeholders We have a lot of findings – now what? Who (should) care(s)? Identifying stakeholders –Faculty, others at CCs in targeted disciplines –Faculty, others at universities in targeted disciplines –Students (both sides of transfer) –Employers in targeted disciplines

RP Conference | April 2011 | 27 Designed by Gregory M Stoup Research Request Collabo- ratively explore research questions Determine what evidence will help answer the questions Conduct research & analysis Act on findings & evaluate results Explore action steps Dialog to interpret results Collaborative Dialog on Student Success

RP Conference | April 2011 | 28 Communication Tools & Devices Briefs, discipline-specific, audience-specific Student advice to students, faculty Case studies Website Social media?

RP Conference | April 2011 | 29 State of Engagement / Activation Points and Scope of Engagement –Statewide, inter-segmental Engineering Group –Regional Engineering Consortium –Inter-segmental, regional Accounting meeting –Debrief w. Engineering students Bringing industry on board? Regional vs Statewide Convenings?

RP Conference | April 2011 | 30 Small Group Discussion Communicating OM Transfer Data 1.What kind of communication strategies have you used in the past and for what kind of transfer findings? 2.Have you communicated findings to students in the past? How? How did it work? 3.Would any of the communication tools used in the study work for your purpose(s)? Why? Why not? 4.Have you used social media tools to communicate research findings? Do you have any interest in doing so?

RP Conference | April 2011 | 31 Revisiting the Learning Outcomes Identify and use tools and strategies to research transfer in occupational majors Understand challenges and opportunities involved in such research Identify and use tools and strategies to engage stakeholders in research cycle Identify and use tools and strategies to communicate findings

RP Conference | April 2011 | 32 CTE/OM Web Page & Contact Information CTE Transfer Study Web Page Eva Schiorring, RP Group Terrence Willett, Cal-PASS/IEBC RP Conference | April 2011 | 32