Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Leadership, Policy, and Lifelong Learning
Major Professor
Jarrett Gupton, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Deidre Cobb-Roberts, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Michelle Bombaugh, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Fai Howard, Ph.D.
Keywords
college experience, post-transition, sense of belonging, academic experience, student services, social experience
Abstract
This qualitative study aims to establish a knowledge base and learn about the experience of first-generation transfer students who have completed their Associate in Art (AA) degree from a community college and have transitioned to a four-year public university. The study aims to examine first-generation transfer students' sense of belonging and transition at a four-year public university. A qualitative case study was conducted to learn about the experiences of first-generation transfer students who transferred from state community colleges and are currently enrolled at a four-year university in a bridge program. This study was driven by two theoretical frameworks: Schlossberg's transition theory and Strayhorn's sense of belonging theory. The data collection method included three document analyses, eight individual interviews, and two focus groups. Four themes and eight subthemes emerged. This study concludes with recommendations for faculty, staff, administrators, and policymakers to support transfer students and address barriers within higher education.
Scholar Commons Citation
Harris, Quishaundra R., "Transfer Students Matter: A Case Study on the Student Experience of First-Generation Transfer Students at a Four-Year Public University in a Bridge Program" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10516
