A Comparison of Factors Related to University Students' Learning: College-Transfer and Direct-Entry from High School Students

Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education. P.O. Box 34091, RPO Fort Richmond, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5T5, Canada. Tel: 204-474-6404; Fax: 204-474-7561; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://csshe-scees.ca/publications/canadian-journal-of-higher-education/

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25

High School Students; Comparative Analysis; Performance Factors; College Students; Academic Achievement; Articulation (Education); Transfer Policy; College Transfer Students; Age Differences; Gender Differences; Prior Learning; Time Factors (Learning); Learning Strategies; Educational Resources; Student Educational Objectives; Achievement Need; Transfer Programs; Profiles; Demography; Student Characteristics; Student Surveys; Questionnaires; Online Surveys; Occupational Aspiration; Student Attitudes; Foreign Countries

0316-1218

Articulation agreements between colleges and universities, whereby students with two-year college diplomas can receive advancement toward a four-year university degree, are provincially mandated in some Canadian provinces and highly encouraged in others. In this study, we compared learning in college transfer and direct-entry from high school (DEHS) students at the University of Guelph-Humber in Ontario, using eight factors related to learning: age, gender, years of prior postsecondary experience, learning approach, academic performance, use of available learning resources, subjective course experience, and career goals. Our results show that while college-transfer students tend to be older than DEHS students, they do not significantly differ in either learning approach or academic performance. This is an important finding, suggesting that college-transfer programs are a viable option for non-traditional university students. We conclude that the academic success of college-transfer students is attainable with careful consideration of policies, such as admissions criteria, and the drafting of formal articulation agreements between institutions.

As Provided

60

2015

EJ1073604