The Transfer Research Team at UNC Charlotte is conducting an exploration into community college (CC) transfer student behaviors and outcomes in North Carolina (NC). For instance, we have learned that approximately 40% of North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) transfer students to University of North Carolina (UNC) campuses follow a primary feeder pattern (i.e., transferring from a CC to the most frequent transfer destination university, often the closest university). Thus, the majority of NCCCS to UNC students transfer to a university outside of the most frequent pattern. In addition, we have learned that higher percentages of students transferring from CCs in economically distressed counties (as compared with less economically distressed counties) transfer with Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees more typically associated with workforce preparation than transfer, and those students typically earn baccalaureate degrees at lower rates than those with more transfer-oriented associate degrees (e.g., Associate in Arts/Associate in Science). These and other preliminary findings have shown the need to explore further the behaviors and experiences of CC transfer students in NC. 

With support from the John M. Belk Endowment and in an effort to inform discussions about how NC can reach the myFutureNC attainment goal of 2 million by 2030, we are engaging in a multi-year effort to capture quantitative and qualitative data that will help us better understand transfer students’ experiences.