Bridge to Success: Developing Library Services for Transfer Students

摘要

A ppalachian State University (ASU) is a public, compre- hensive, Master’s level institution located in rural North Carolina, with a 2016-17-student enrollment of 18,295 (Appalachian State University Fast Facts). Reflecting na- tional trends, ASU has experienced growth in transfer stu- dent enrollment over the past decade. Between 2006 and 2016, transfer enrollment increased from 768 to 1596 stu- dents and this figure is expected to increase. The majority enroll as sophomores and come to the University from com- munity colleges (Fall 2016 Transfer Student Talking Points). The impact of this transfer student enrollment is important for several reasons. At ASU, 33.2% of the 2015- 16 graduation class began as transfers (Fall 2016 Transfer Student Talking Points). Nationwide, 49% of students who graduated from four-year institutions in 2015-16 had been enrolled at a two-year institution during the previous ten years. About half of these students earned their bachelor’s degree within three years of enrollment at a two-year institu- tion (National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Snapshot Report, Spring 2017). In addition, the success of transfer students impacts other measures of institutional ac- countability such as retention, time to degree completion, grade point average (GPA), and job placement (Bailey, 2006).