The Texas Transfer Project encompasses several studies related to postsecondary transfer in Texas. Despite growing research on transfer, few qualitative studies have analyzed the complete process, from initial intention to baccalaureate completion or dropout. This project builds a stronger understanding of the longitudinal transfer process by following 100 transfer-intending community college students for six years. We followed transfer-intending community college students through their academic journey (including navigating the community college, choice of transfer destination, changes in educational aspirations, and post-transfer experiences). The study completed its 6th year of data collection in spring 2021.
To further strengthen the policy relevance and contribution of the project, we incorporated state administrative data from the Texas Education Research Center (ERC) to illustrate how the rich experiential observations from our qualitative data align with broader patterns of credit accumulation and transfer. Dr. Schudde uses state administrative data from the ERC to examine transfer patterns and the role of state transfer policies in predicting bachelor’s degree attainment among community college transfer students. Dr. Jabbar uses the ERC data to examine student application patterns and college choice.
Combined, the Texas Transfer Project offers qualitative findings that highlight student voices, while also leveraging data from the full population of attendees at Texas colleges to demonstrate the scale of the observed patterns. Dr. Lauren Schudde and Dr. Huriya Jabbar lead the project. A number of graduate students have contributed to this ongoing research. Our current qualitative research team includes: Sherri Castillo, Ashli Duncan, Eliza Epstein, Marisol Garza, Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley, Lauren Shook, and Elif Yucel.
This research was funded by the Greater Texas Foundation.