What does it mean to be What does it mean to be part of UIUC?part of UIUC?

The Stories of Transfer Students from The Stories of Transfer Students from Parkland Community CollegeParkland Community College

Finding Their PlaceFinding Their Place

Primary Research Question:Primary Research Question:How do transfer students from How do transfer students from

Parkland view their experience at the Parkland view their experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?Champaign?

Subsidiary QuestionsSubsidiary Questions How have these students established a How have these students established a

“sense of place”?“sense of place”? What types of support systems have What types of support systems have

they developed?they developed? How did their experience at Parkland How did their experience at Parkland

prepare them for UIUC?prepare them for UIUC?

Research PlanResearch Plan

Archival DataArchival Data What did transfer students of the past What did transfer students of the past

do to establish a sense of place?do to establish a sense of place? Contacted the Assistant Dean of Contacted the Assistant Dean of

StudentsStudents Tau Sigma is the only registered student Tau Sigma is the only registered student

organization for transfer studentsorganization for transfer students 10 students were interviewed10 students were interviewed

Not quite a “scientific” random sampleNot quite a “scientific” random sample

Parkland Community Parkland Community College, established in College, established in 19661966

3000 students are 3000 students are concurrently enrolled at concurrently enrolled at the University of Illinois the University of Illinois and Parkland each yearand Parkland each year

About 42% of Parkland About 42% of Parkland students are the first in students are the first in their families to attend their families to attend collegecollege

At least 68% of At least 68% of Parkland students work Parkland students work while attending collegewhile attending college

http://www.parkland.edu/images/new/http://www.parkland.edu/images/new/

  

UIUC, established in UIUC, established in 1868 1868

One of the original One of the original public land-grant public land-grant institutionsinstitutions

UIUC is composed UIUC is composed of undergraduates of undergraduates from all 50 US from all 50 US StatesStates

However, 89% of However, 89% of those enrolled are those enrolled are Illinois residentsIllinois residents

““A World class A World class institution”institution”

The InformantsThe Informants

4 “Cold” In Depth Interviews4 “Cold” In Depth Interviews ½ hr-1hr long interviews½ hr-1hr long interviews

4 Short Answer Sessions4 Short Answer Sessions Contact with Informants I knew Contact with Informants I knew

from Parklandfrom Parkland 2 Classroom Observations2 Classroom Observations

Male: first semester at UIUC Male: first semester at UIUC Female: third semester at UIUCFemale: third semester at UIUC

AgeAge MajorMajor SexSex RaceRace HomeHome StatusStatus

2121 AnthroAnthro MaleMale WhiteWhite ½ CU½ CU KirtsKirts

2121 EducEduc FemaleFemale WhiteWhite CUCU KirtsKirts

2222 SocSoc FemaleFemale AfAmerAfAmer CH SubCH Sub KirtsKirts

2121 BioBio FemaleFemale WhiteWhite CUCU OBSOBS

2222 EnglEngl MaleMale WhiteWhite 20 CU20 CU OBSOBS

2222 Sp ComSp Com MaleMale WhiteWhite CH SubCH Sub SEWSEW

2222 N/AN/A FemaleFemale WhiteWhite CH SubCH Sub SEWSEW

2323 Art HistArt Hist FemaleFemale WhiteWhite CUCU SEWSEW

2626 MathMath FemaleFemale AsAmerAsAmer CUCU SEWSEW

2626 CommComm MaleMale AfAmerAfAmer 1 CU1 CU EPSEPS

Native American African American

Latino/a White

International Did not Report

““Please, please, please invest Please, please, please invest in a campus map.”in a campus map.” Feelings of being lostFeelings of being lost

All of the informants stated that they have All of the informants stated that they have felt “lost”felt “lost”

Academically and/or SociallyAcademically and/or Socially Loss of supportLoss of support

Feelings of completenessFeelings of completeness Six informants felt that UIUC is, Six informants felt that UIUC is,

academically, a perfect matchacademically, a perfect match Making your own wayMaking your own way

““socially complete” students feel the socially complete” students feel the organizations they are part of have helped organizations they are part of have helped them over come feelings of being lostthem over come feelings of being lost

““The undergrad students have The undergrad students have alreadyalready found friends…” found friends…” Wanting friendsWanting friends

Not knowing how to meet people/ Not knowing how to meet people/ lacking access to studentslacking access to students

Making friendsMaking friends Friends made on campus are from Friends made on campus are from

classes or extra-curricular activitiesclasses or extra-curricular activities Home is where my friends areHome is where my friends are

““Non-traditional students”, students Non-traditional students”, students living off campus and whose hometown living off campus and whose hometown is less than 1 hour away tend to have is less than 1 hour away tend to have less positive experiences making friends less positive experiences making friends on campuson campus

““I’m here to get a degree…not I’m here to get a degree…not necessarily to socialize…”necessarily to socialize…”

CU Transfers vs. IL TransfersCU Transfers vs. IL Transfers All CU Transfers tended to be less All CU Transfers tended to be less

involved socially on campus involved socially on campus All Transfers who spent 2 All Transfers who spent 2

semesters or more at Parkland semesters or more at Parkland valued studying over socializingvalued studying over socializing

Most IL transfers studied at Most IL transfers studied at Parkland for 1 semester before Parkland for 1 semester before enrolling at UIUCenrolling at UIUC

Campus Communities Campus Communities

The informants compared Parkland The informants compared Parkland and UIUC in terms of communityand UIUC in terms of community Fendi purses and “surreal” amounts of Fendi purses and “surreal” amounts of

moneymoney Those who felt lost often voiced concern Those who felt lost often voiced concern

over matters of moneyover matters of money

AdvisingAdvising The majority of informants felt the teachers The majority of informants felt the teachers

at Parkland really “took care of them”at Parkland really “took care of them”

Campus ClimateCampus Climate UIUC is much more segregatedUIUC is much more segregated

So, what do Transfers want?So, what do Transfers want?

They would like to fit in…They would like to fit in… Everyone noted their desire to have Everyone noted their desire to have

friendships on campusfriendships on campus Most miss the Parkland Community and Most miss the Parkland Community and

FacultyFaculty But then again, they like themselves But then again, they like themselves

the way they are.the way they are. UIUC is a “world class institution”UIUC is a “world class institution” They are to attached to the CU They are to attached to the CU

communitycommunity Some days it is fun to observe from “the Some days it is fun to observe from “the

space between'”space between'”