Evaluation of Arizona S Transfer Articulation System

Evaluation of Arizona’s Transfer Articulation System

Evaluation of Arizona’s Transfer Articulation System:
Appendix 3

Arizona Academic Program Articulation Steering Committee

May 31, 2007

Hezel Associates, LLC

1201 E. Fayette St.

Syracuse, NY13210

315-422-3512

Hezel Associates, LLC1

Evaluation of Arizona’s Transfer Articulation System

Table of Contents

Appendix 3.1: Survey Instruments......

Advisors Survey......

Admissions and Registrars Survey......

Faculty ATF Member Survey......

University Student Survey......

Community College Student Survey......

Appendix 3.2: Focus Group Protocols......

Advisor Focus Group Protocol......

ATF Focus Group Protocol......

Admissions/Registrars Focus Group Protocol......

University Student Focus Group Protocol......

Community College Student Focus Group Protocol......

Appendix 3.3: Website PowerPoint Presentation......

Appendix 3.4: ASSIST Data Analysis Tables......

A.Graduation......

B.Persistence......

C.GPA......

D.Credits at Graduation......

E.Community College Effects......

Hezel Associates, LLC1

Evaluation of Arizona’s Transfer Articulation System

Appendix 3.1:
Survey Instruments

Advisors Survey

Please complete the following survey about your perceptions of, experience with and opinions regarding the Arizona transfer system. This survey is a component in the overall evaluation of the transfer articulation between Arizona's public community colleges and universities. This survey is being conducted by Hezel Associates, a research and consulting firm in Syracuse, NY, on behalf of the Arizona Transfer Articulation Support Systems (ATASS) and the Academic Program Articulation Steering Committee (APASC). Individual responses will be kept confidential, so please give us your candid responses.

If you have questions or comments regarding the survey, please contact William Yu at

1. To begin, please indicate at which institution you are currently employed.

ArizonaStateUniversity
Northern ArizonaUniversity
The University of Arizona
ArizonaWesternCollege
CentralArizonaCollege
Chandler/Gilbert Community College
CochiseCollege
CoconinoCountyCommunity College
DineCollege
East Valley Institute of Technology
Eastern ArizonaCollege
EstrellaMountainCommunity College
GatewayCommunity College
GlendaleCommunity College
MaricopaSkillCenter
MesaCommunity College
MohaveCommunity College
NorthlandPioneerCollege
ParadiseValleyCommunity College
PhoenixCollege
PimaCommunity College
RioSaladoCollege
ScottsdaleCommunity College
SouthMountainCommunity College
Southwest Skill Center-Campus of EstrellaMountainCommunity College
YavapaiCollege

2. Please indicate the extent to which you are familiar with each of the following components of the Arizona transfer system:

Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)
Transfer pathway degrees (Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Business (ABus))
Common course matrices

Very familiar
Somewhat familiar
Not familiar

Please answer the following questions about the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC).

3. Overall, what is your level of satisfaction with the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

Very Satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

4. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) has facilitated student progress toward meeting baccalaureate degree requirements.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

5. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) has reduced barriers for students to be able to transfer (from a community college to a university).

Strongly Agree

Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

6. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

7. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

8. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

Please answer the following questions about transfer pathway degrees. Transfer pathway degrees include the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Business (ABus).

9. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, the requirements for transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus) are clear (they are easily understood and are not confusing).

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

10. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, the requirements for transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus) have remained stable over time.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

11. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, compared to students who do not complete transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus), students who complete transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus) prior to transfer are better prepared for university studies.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

12. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus)?

13. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus)?

14. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus)?

Please answer the following questions about common course matrices.

15. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, the common course matrices have been effective in helping students plan for transferring (from a community college to a university).

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

16. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the common course matrices?

17. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the common course matrices?

18. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the common course matrices?

Please answer the following questions about the Arizona Transfer Website (az.transfer.org/cas).

19. About how often do you utilize the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Less than once per month
Never

20. Please rate the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas) on:

a. Quality of information
b. Aesthetic appeal
c. Ease of navigation
d. Ease of finding information
e. Helpfulness in facilitating the transfer and advising process
f. Intuitiveness (i.e. is information what you expected and where you expect it to be?)

(Scale)

Very good
Good
Poor
Very poor
Not sure

21. For what purpose(s) do you most frequently use the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

22. What information, if any, do you need that you can not currently find on the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

23. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

Please answer the following questions about your experience with the Arizona transfer system as a community college advisor. (using institution as filter)

24. In your experience, what percentage of students at your institution plan or intend to transfer to a university?

More than 50%
41-50%
31-40%
21-30%
11-20%
0-10%
Not sure/don’t know

25. In your experience, do a majority of students at your institutions who plan or intend to transfer to a university engage in pre-transfer planning activities with the help of an advisor?

26. During the 2005-2006 academic year, how many students did you advise through the transfer process (i.e. students who attempted to transfer at some point during the year, whether successful or unsuccessful)?

27. Of the students you advised through the transfer process during the 2005-2006 academic year (i.e. students who attempted to transfer at some point during the year, whether successful or unsuccessful), what percentage of students would you classify as having had the following types of transfer experiences (Assign a percentage to each, summing to 100%)

Transferred with no difficulties
Transferred but with some difficulties
Transferred but with many difficulties
Unable to transfer/did not transfer
Not sure/don’t know

28. Does your community college offer a course to assist/prepare students for transfer to a university?

Please answer the following questions about the Arizona transfer system as a whole.

29. What were some of the most common problems or difficulties that students encountered during the transfer process?

30. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, sufficient information concerning transferring is available to students.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

31. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: In my opinion, during pre-enrollment visits or orientation sessions, students have adequate opportunities to discuss issues related to course articulation (they know which courses will count in their program at the university).

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

32. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: As an advisor, I feel sufficiently aware of all components of the Arizona transfer system.

Strongly Agree

Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

33. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statement: As an advisor, I know of changes to the Arizona transfer system in a timely manner after they are made.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

34. How satisfied are you with the Arizona transfer system as a whole?

Very Satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

35. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the Arizona transfer system?

36. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the Arizona transfer system?

37. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the Arizona transfer system?

Please provide us with the following information about your role and experience as an advisor.

38. Which of the following best describes your advising role?

I am a full-time academic advisor
I am a part-time academic advisor
I am a faculty member with advising responsibilities
I am an administrator/staff member with advising responsibilities

39. How long have you been employed in an academic advising role at your current institution?

40. In total over the course of your career, how long have you been employed in an academic advising role?

41. Are you a Transfer Student Ombudsperson?

Thank you for completing this survey!

Your responses will be part of the overall evaluation of the transfer articulation between Arizona's public community colleges and universities. Your responses are very valuable to us and we very much appreciate your time.

Admissions and Registrars Survey

If you have questions or comments regarding the survey, please contact William Yu at

1. To begin, please indicate at which institution you are currently employed.

ArizonaStateUniversity
Northern ArizonaUniversity
The University of Arizona
ArizonaWesternCollege
CentralArizonaCollege
Chandler/Gilbert Community College
CochiseCollege
CoconinoCountyCommunity College
DineCollege
East Valley Institute of Technology
Eastern ArizonaCollege
EstrellaMountainCommunity College
GatewayCommunity College
GlendaleCommunity College
MaricopaSkillCenter
MesaCommunity College
MohaveCommunity College
NorthlandPioneerCollege
ParadiseValleyCommunity College
PhoenixCollege
PimaCommunity College
RioSaladoCollege
ScottsdaleCommunity College
SouthMountainCommunity College
Southwest Skill Center-Campus of EstrellaMountainCommunity College
YavapaiCollege

Community Colleges only>

Please answer the following questions about how various components of the Arizona transfer system work at your community college.

2. How does a student apply for the AGEC at your community college?

Through their academic advisor
Though the registrar’s office
The AGEC is certified automatically
Other (please specify) (2a)

3. When is the earliest a student is able to apply for his or her AGEC at your community college?

Upon completion of all requirements for the AGEC
The second semester prior to graduation (i.e. Fall 2005 if they will graduate Spring 2006)
The semester of graduation
Other (please specify)

4. How is an AGEC recorded on a student transcript at your community college?

5. Does your community college show “AGEC in progress” on student transcripts?

6. How is an “AGEC in progress” recorded on a student transcript at your community college?

Comments:

Universities only>

Please answer the following questions about how various components of the Arizona transfer system work at your university.

7. Does your university use a standard admissions procedure for students with “AGEC in progress?”

8. Please describe the admissions procedure your university uses for students with AGEC in progress.

9. How is a student’s AGEC status communicated to the department in which he or she will be enrolled?

10. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement:

Each community college is consistent in how they identify AGECs on their student transcripts.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

11. Comments on how community colleges identify AGECs on their student transcripts:

12. What is the likelihood that a student who otherwise would not be admitted to your university but has completed an AGEC would nevertheless be granted admission?

Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely

13. What is the likelihood that a student who otherwise would not be admitted to your university but has completed an associate’s degree at an Arizona community college would nevertheless be granted admission?

Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely

Comments:

Please answer the following questions about the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC).

14. Overall, what is your level of satisfaction with the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

Very Satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

15. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement:

The Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) has facilitated student progress toward meeting baccalaureate degree requirements.

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

16. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement:

The Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) has reduced barriers for students to transfer from a community college to a university.

Strongly Agree

Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

17. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

18. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

19. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)?

Comments:

Please answer the following questions about transfer pathway degrees. Transfer pathway degrees include the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Business (ABus).

20. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement:

Students who complete transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus) prior to transfer are better prepared for university studies than students who do not complete transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus).

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Not sure

21. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus)?

22. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus)?

23. What recommendations do you have for improvement to the transfer pathway degrees (AA, AS, ABus)?

Comments:

Please answer the following questions about the Arizona Transfer Website (az.transfer.org/cas).

24. About how often do you utilize the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Less than once per month
Never [will not be asked subsequent questions]

25. Please rate the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas) on:

a. Quality of information

b. Aesthetic appeal

c. Ease of navigation

d. Ease of finding information

e. Helpfulness in facilitating the transfer and admissions process

f. Intuitiveness (i.e. is information what you expected and where you expect it to be?)

(Scale)

Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Very poor

26. For what purpose(s) do you most frequently use the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

27. What information, if any, do you need that you can not currently find on the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

28. What recommendations do you have for the improvement of the Arizona transfer website (az.transfer.org/cas)?

Comm5. Comments:

Please answer the following questions about the Arizona transfer system as a whole.

29. How satisfied are you with the Arizona transfer system as a whole?

Very Satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

30. What do you consider to be the single greatest strength of the Arizona transfer system?

31. What do you consider to be the single greatest weakness of the Arizona transfer system?

32. What recommendations do you have for the improvement of the Arizona transfer system overall?

Comm6. Comments:

Please provide us with the following information about your role and experience in admissions or records.

33. Please identify your primary admissions and registrar functions from the list below. You may check up to two functions, but please do not check more than two. If you perform more than two of the functions, please check the two that represent your primary functions.

Records managements

Registrar administrator (Registrar, Associate or Assistant Registrar)

Admissions Administrator (Director, Associate or Assistant Director)

Graduation Services

Recruiter

Encoder

Data Entry

Transcript evaluator

Admissions counselor