THE SUCCESS OF VOLUNTEER STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO TRANSFER TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AND ACQUIRE A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE AS ASSESSED BY THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND THE PERCEPTION OF EACH STUDENT
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to determine the level of academic preparation of Volunteer State Community College graduates who transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and acquired a baccalaureate degree. The study included ten years of graduates from 1973-1983. There were 177 graduates identified by the State Board of Regents. Data were gathered on the grade point average of each of the graduates at their graduation from Volunteer State Community College, the first term at Middle Tennessee State University, and the final grade point average at Middle Tennessee State University. Additionally, there were data collected using a twenty-five item questionnaire to obtain the students' perception concerning selected institutional characteristics. The graduates were asked if the characteristics were more representative of Volunteer State Community College or Middle Tennessee State University, and to indicate its impact on their academic performance. All 177 graduates were mailed a questionnaire during the summer of 1984. The response rate was 25 percent with forty-six graduates responding. The data gathered concerning the grade point average were submitted to a correlated t-test as well as a Pearson r correlation. The analysis was presented graphically and in narrative form. The data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed and presented in cross-tabulation and narrative. The most significant conclusions reached in the study were: a correlation was found between community college grades and university grades; a high positive correlation existed between the community college final grade point average and the final university grade point average, r =.81; a moderately high correlation existed between the community college grade point average and the first university grade point average, r =.61; there was evidence of transfer shock as there was a significant decline in the mean grade point average from the community college to the first grade point average at the university; however, the final grade point averages did partially recover. Those institutional characteristics listed were more indicative of the community college than the university. The characteristics most indicative of the community college were those indicating a positive faculty-student relationship. The emphasis on and competition for grades were the characteristics most indicative of the university.
Subject Area
Community colleges|Higher education
Recommended Citation
ALICE MARIE ALEXANDER AMONETTE,
"THE SUCCESS OF VOLUNTEER STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO TRANSFER TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY AND ACQUIRE A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE AS ASSESSED BY THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND THE PERCEPTION OF EACH STUDENT"
(1985).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI8802601.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI8802601