Student Achievement
Transfer Education
Students who desire to earn an associate degree to prepare them for transfer or those who want to take courses to transfer (without earning a degree) compose an estimated 60% of the students taking credit courses. The intended learning outcome for the transfer curriculum is simple:
Students are prepared to succeed in a four-year college program.
The assessment committee uses a variety of measures to determine if students are meeting this outcome:
*Most NWACC students transfer to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (UAF)- see the transfer demographics.
Graduation and Retention at UAF
The table shows the graduation and retention rates of UAF first-time, full-time freshman compared to the comparable group of 164 NWACC students, who were new to UAF, who transferred with over 60 hours, and who were full-time their first semester.
Students (years since entry)
|
Continued at UAF |
Not enrolled |
Graduated from UAF |
| UAF Freshman (4 years)* |
34% |
46% |
20% |
| NWACC Transfer (2 years) |
63% |
26% |
12% |
| UAF Freshman (6 years)* |
45% |
5% |
50% |
| NWACC Transfer (4 years)** |
42% |
4% |
54% |
*The average retention, graduation rates for UAF students (1993-1997) as reported on the UAF Institutional research web site.
**Since we don't have the 9 the semester of enrollment, this % represents how many began the second semester of the 4 th year. Please note that size of the cohort for which we have 4 years of data is only 26.
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Graduate Surveys
Surveys are sent to AA and AS graduates six months after graduation. The results from the classes of 2001-2005 are presented below.
| Based on your experience since graduation, rate the quality of education you received at NWACC in these subject areas: |
| Subject area: |
Superior |
Adequate |
Inadequate |
Not applicable |
| U.S. History & Government |
57 |
85 |
4 |
24 |
| Natural (laboratory) Science |
68 |
83 |
3 |
15 |
| Fine Arts & Humanities |
54 |
97 |
3 |
16 |
| Social & Behavioral Science |
54 |
85 |
6 |
25 |
| Business |
26 |
45 |
3 |
96* |
| Western Civilization |
33 |
52 |
1 |
84** |
| Wellness (Health or P.E.) |
38 |
69 |
3 |
60** |
| Total |
330 |
516 |
23 |
|
| Average % responses |
38% |
59% |
3% |
|
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GPA shift from NWACC to UAF
Another piece of evidence that indicates if NWACC students are prepared for transfer is their GPA at the transfer institution. The expectation is that NWACC transfer GPA should be comparable to the GPA they earned while at NWACC. Nationally, students transferring to a four-year institution experience a drop in their GPA of 0.5 points. While GPA, like retention and gradation rates, is influenced by a number of factors besides academic preparation, this measure does provide some sense of readiness to succeed in a baccalaureate program. All students transferring from 1996-1999 had an average GPA shift of -0.24 points (difference of the cumulative UA GPA and the cumulative NWACC GPA). The group of NWACC students who transferred over 60 hours, who were new to UAF, and who were full-time their first semester average GPA shifted only -0.09 points.
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Demographics of NWACC students transferring to UAF
874 NWACC students transferred to UAF between fall 1996 and fall 1999 (35 of these records were deleted because they didn't have a first semester of data)
Numbers transferring
In fall 1996, 128 NWACC students enrolled at UAF; in spring 1997, 87 enrolled.
Each year, the number transferring has increased. The number of fall transfers has always been larger than the number of spring transfers.
In fall 1999, 158 NWACC students enrolled at UAF; in spring 1997, 93 enrolled.
Four hundred and twenty four (51%) of transfers were male and four hundred and fifteen (49%) were female. More women transfer in the fall and more men transfer in the spring. Since we have one more fall cohort than spring, in general more men transfer to UA than woman.
On average, 120 NWACC students have transferred to UAF each semester.
| Hours transferred |
1-15 hours |
16-30 hours |
31-45 hours |
46-50 hours |
> 60 hours |
Percent of students |
18% |
20% |
19% |
19% |
23% |
The average NWACC student transfers 40 hours to UAF.
About a third (36%) of NWACC transfers are "Returning" transfers, who have been enrolled previously at UAF and have an academic record.
Eighty-three (10%) transferred less than 24 hours and are classified as transfer "freshman".
Just over half (54%) are classified as New "transfers".
Majors fields of study
27% transfer as undecided or undeclared
27% transfer to Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences (2/3 BA and 1/3 BS majors)
21%transfer to the Walton College of Business
13% transfer to the College of Education and Health Professions (2/3 in education and 1/3 in health)
7% transfer to Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food & Life Science (2/3 Agriculture and 1/3 School of Human Environmental Sciences )
4% transfer to the College of Engineering
1% transfer to the School of Architecture
Hours taken at UAF
On average only 50% of NWACC transfers are full-time students
The average number of hours taken a semester is 11.
Measures of Success
First semester retention is 79%. Average retention semester to semester is 89%.
Of the 839 students on record, 133 have graduated.
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For questions/comments on this content, please contact Carey Chaney.
This page was last updated on: December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am
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