Enhancing Advising Support for BIPOC Students During the Transfer Process

• Transfer or campus culture shock impacts students ability to navigate a new University (Daddona, 2019; Dennis, 2008)

• A sense of belonging at the institution is important for retention of all students (O’Keefe, 2013)

• These two issues are compounded for BIPOC students at a PWI (Lee, 2018)

• Black PSU student’s ability to navigate the university affects their experience (Jackson, 2017)

• Two surveys were distributed; one to PSU, the other to a local community college.

• Using Qualtrics, the surveys collected demographic info and had additional qualitative and quantitative questions regarding advising needs and experiences

• Recruitment for surveys took place by contacting faculty, campus resources, student groups, and social media accounts

• The goal of the focus groups was to generate ideas based on the survey results

• Two focus groups were conducted using Zoom

• A gift card drawing was offered as an incentive to complete the survey. All focus group participants were offered a gift card.

We conducted a thematic analysis of our data which showed the following:

• Advisors are Successful in Essential Functions

• Patterns of Self-Reliance Exist

• Participants Experienced White Supremacy

• Themes of Support

  • Comfort & Safety

  • Build Genuine Relationships

  • Accessibility

Learn more about our results by clicking here.

• Presented at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial Conference, June 2021

• Presented preliminary results to Portland State University Provost

• Created a Summer Report with recommendations for Advising and Career Services

• Hosted the first quarterly BIPOC transfer student event: BIPOC Transfer Student Alumni Panel & Resource Connection, October 20, 2021

• Created a Quick Guide to Campus Resources

Learn more by clicking here.