Using Academic And Demographic Characteristics to Determine Whether or Not Admitted Transfer Students Will Enroll in a Four-Year Research-Extensive University in the Southeastern Region of the United States

Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether or not selected demographic, academic, and institutional characteristics influence the decision of admitted transfer students to enroll in a research-extensive university in the southeastern region of the United States. The transfer student population is an untapped student population that could help benefit many universities. If these students are targeted like potential freshmen, then universities can increase their enrollment. Being able to identify the correct characteristics for potential transfer students would help conserve resources and maximize the incoming transfer student population. This study used the standards of a research-extensive university in the Southeastern region of the United States to identify transfer students who were admitted and either enrolled or did not enroll. A transfer student was defined as a student with at least 30 hours of college course work, a college-level English, a college-level math, and a minimum 2.5 GPA. The population came from the summer 2013-spring 2014 academic semesters. There were 12 independent variables provided by the Office of Enrollment Management and input into a computerized statistics program. Using logistic regression, the researcher was able to identify two characteristics that were statistically significant in correctly classifying enrollment status. Residence and having a higher education degree correctly classified 77.5% of the transfer student population. The other variables that were statistically significant were the variable multi-racial, transfer hours attempted, and transfer hours earned. The researcher recommended that surveys be conducted to determine why students complete a higher education degree and get admitted, but do not enroll in university. The researchers also recommended working with different ethnicities to determine why multi-racial students have a different enrollment pattern than the other ethnicities. Research also needs to be conducted concerning the role transfer parent alumni have on whether or not a student will or will not enroll after being admitted to the university.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Resources Management

Grantor

Human Resource Education and Workforce Development

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Linam, Barrett Palmer

• academic characteristics
• demographic characteristics
• hours
• transfer gpa
• transfer students

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-04022015-164836
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/172

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1171