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The University Journey of STEM Transfer Students
| Title: | The University Journey of STEM Transfer Students. |
 63 views 17 downloads |
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| Name(s): |
Rich, Nancy, author Mountford, Meredith, Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
| Date Created: | 2018 | |
| Date Issued: | 2018 | |
| Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
| Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
| Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
| Extent: | 194 p. | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Abstract/Description: | The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the feelings and experiences of state college transfer STEM students regarding transfer from the state college to the university. The 25 participants in this study were asked to describe their feelings about the transfer process. Data were gathered from the interviews and from a review of short journals and documents. It was hoped that the experiences of successful transfer students would help illustrate the feelings present when these STEM transfer students enter the university as juniors and compete with native juniors or juniors who began their collegiate experiences as freshmen at the university. Each participant had varied experiences and feelings from the experience. There was no one process that each student traveled through. Findings included: financial influences on decision-making, inconsistencies in advising causing anxieties, hands on learning impacts persistence, negative connotations for transfer students, class size impacts difficulty, the importance of university transfer orientation, and areas in need of improvement. During participant interviews, the issue of finance and budgeting was the most prevalent topic. Participants found that their state college advisors did not always understand their intended career paths causing confusion and anxiety. They valued hands on experiences provided by state college professors who encouraged them to continue their education. The increased class size at the university was disconcerting to many study participants. At the state college professors had open-door policies for students with questions or in need of extra assistance with course materials. Participants felt that the classification of transfer student had some negative connotations at the university. Students were reluctant to be singled out as state college transfer students. In addition, transfer orientation was viewed by older participants as demeaning. Participants were asked about changes they would make in the transfer process. The link programs seemed to be under promoted. A database for immigration information was suggested. Participants also suggested changes to transfer student orientation. This study was limited to 25 successful transfer students. The results should not be generalized to a larger population, but instead provide ideas for future policy discussions and research. | |
| Identifier: | FA00013110 (IID) | |
| Degree granted: | Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. | |
| Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
| Note(s): | Includes bibliography. | |
| Subject(s): |
Transfer students STEM Qualitative research |
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| Held by: | Florida Atlantic University Libraries | |
| Sublocation: | Digital Library | |
| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013110 | |
| Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
| Use and Reproduction: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | |
| Host Institution: | FAU | |
| Is Part of Series: | Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections. |
