University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - Achievements and Promising Practices

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Evaluation Overview

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Student Body: 25,500 undergraduate and 14,400 graduate students

Name of Program: Transfer to Michigan (TR2M)

History of institutional work with community college transfer students:

  • Recent history is limited; mostly tied to relationships between particular community colleges and colleges within U-M. Michigan – Pursuing Our Dreams (M-POD – formerly Michigan Transfer Initiatives for Emerging Scholars (M-TIES) – is a state-funded program that has recruited underrepresented students from Washtenaw Community College. U-M School of Nursing has had articulation agreements with four community colleges and provides transfer programming; U-M College of Engineering has also had a history of recruiting community college students. U-M reportedly had closer connections and transfer agreements with many community colleges until the mid-1990s.

Community College Partners:

  • All 31 community colleges in Michigan; also partnering with Michigan Community College Association

Outreach:

  • University of Michigan sends a team of staff from Admissions, Financial Aid, College of Letters, Science & the Arts (LSA), Nursing, and Engineering (the “TR2M Roadshow”) to approximately eight community colleges per year to meet with students, faculty, administrators, and advising staff.
  • Representatives of the TR2M program attend transfer and college fairs at community colleges throughout the state.
  • The University offers Community College Transfer Days for prospective transfers and community college counselors on the U-M campus.

Recruitment:

  • Recruitment coordinators in Kinesiology, Engineering, and Nursing conduct additional recruitment visits, help students plan appropriate coursework for transfer, and (in some cases) assist with transition to U-M.

Pre-admission Assistance:

  • University of Michigan provides summer research fellowships to prospective community college transfer students through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, providing academic and professional experience as well as an opportunity to get to know the campus.
  • The University maintains an online community college course guide for every community college in Michigan, helping students and advisers plan for transfer.
  • The U-M admissions office offers monthly information sessions on campus for prospective transfer students.

Application & Financial Aid Support:

  • Representatives from the University’s financial aid office provide one-on-one financial aid counseling for TR2M students.
  • The University established an alumni-funded $5,000/year scholarship for 10 students in the College of Letters, Sciences and Arts and a $5,000/year scholarship to 10 Phi Theta Kappa students across campus.
  • The University provides two one-time community college scholarships of $1,500 to transfers from each community college in Michigan.

Post-admission Assistance:

  • The TR2M program has established a special two-day summer orientation for all low- to moderate-income community college transfers and special orientations for incoming Engineering and Nursing transfer students.
  • Community college transfer students have access to peer mentoring within several colleges (Engineering, LSA, Education, and Nursing) and through the Center for Education of Women (CEW).
  • The University provides several programs to help transfer students make a successful transition (also through CEW).
  • U-M gives special training to its academic advisors on the specific issues community college transfer students face and the types of support they need.

Institutional Commitment:

  • U-M has a Presidential match of donor funds to need-based scholarships.

Other:

  • The University hosts an annual conference for state community college presidents and/or counselors to build relationships, publicize U-M’s programs, provide specific information about transfers, and solicit feedback

Achievements through Year 2:

  • In Summer 2007, 16 students participated in 10-12 week research internships with faculty. The internships continued in 2008.
  • A new two-day summer orientation for community college transfers was established and data from the evaluation were used to modify the Summer 2008 orientation.
  • The University updated its online community college transfer course guides for each community college in Michigan lists which community college courses will transfer for U-M credit.
  • U-M has a new web portal for prospective community college transfer students and their advisors, featuring a “virtual experience” that allows prospective students to create an avatar, chat with current students and admissions representatives, and take a virtual tour of the campus.
  • U-M created publications targeted to prospective community college transfer students; the publications address affordability and financial aid, which has been seen as a major perceived obstacle to transfer for many community college students in Michigan.
  • Peer mentoring programs in Engineering, LSA, Education, and Nursing are planned and being piloted in 2007-08 or 2008-9. “Transfer mentors” who will help incoming LSA transfer students were established in March 2008.
  • U-M is establishing or strengthening partnerships with more community colleges throughout the state.
  • TR2M efforts may be helping to increase overall campus recruitment not only of low- to moderate-income community college transfer students but also new, non-traditional freshmen.
  • The number of community college transfer students receiving undergraduate scholarships from CEW has increased since TR2M began.

Promising Practices:

  • Summer research internships provide community college students an opportunity to see the four-year campus and experience success on it prior to applying for transfer.
  • A tailored summer orientation helps community college transfers familiarize themselves with campus.
  • Facilitating group conversations with community college transfer counselors and others to discuss expectations, promising practices, and concerns has helped to bridge gaps and foster sustainable relationships.

Brandeis University
Center for Youth and Communities
Heller School for Social Policy and Management
 Cathy Burack, EdD, Principal Investigator
Susan Lanspery, PhD