Students transfering to, not from, De Anza
Katia Protsenko
Issue date: 9/21/09 Section: Editorial
Is De Anza College a graduate school?
It may be time to add that blurb to bus ads making their way through the South Bay. With enrollment reaching 2.9 million this year in California, community colleges statewide can expect a jump in reverse transfer enrollment this year.
This enrollment increase poses serious questions for De Anza and community colleges nationwide. How does the community college's role change in accommodating this demographic? As the reverse transfer population grows, what are administrations doing to include them in the social tapestry of a community college campus?
But before we get into the heavy stuff, let's get some basics down. What is a reverse transfer student? Unlike the generally well-known movement from community college to four-year institution, a reverse transfer is a student who comes to community college after already attending a four-year school.
The term reverse transfer encompasses a wide array of educational backgrounds. Bachelor's or Master's degree holders or not, this group made up approximately 20% of the Foothill-De Anza student population last year. This year that number is expected to increase nationwide. Yes, add this enrollment spike to your list of "things to blame on the bad economy."
But it's a little different for California. Although the nation may be nearing the end of its economic tailspin, our sunny state's economy is far from the path of improvement. In coming years, California's return transfer rates are expected to continue growing, even if the nation sees the opposite trend.
As a significant - and growing - part of the community college population, they deserve as much attention from administrations as high school graduate enrollees.
The added strain of more students has the potential to negatively impact everyone's community college experience - getting your necessary classes becomes even more of an uphill battle, parking lots fill up more quickly and resources get thinner.
It may be time to add that blurb to bus ads making their way through the South Bay. With enrollment reaching 2.9 million this year in California, community colleges statewide can expect a jump in reverse transfer enrollment this year.
This enrollment increase poses serious questions for De Anza and community colleges nationwide. How does the community college's role change in accommodating this demographic? As the reverse transfer population grows, what are administrations doing to include them in the social tapestry of a community college campus?
But before we get into the heavy stuff, let's get some basics down. What is a reverse transfer student? Unlike the generally well-known movement from community college to four-year institution, a reverse transfer is a student who comes to community college after already attending a four-year school.
The term reverse transfer encompasses a wide array of educational backgrounds. Bachelor's or Master's degree holders or not, this group made up approximately 20% of the Foothill-De Anza student population last year. This year that number is expected to increase nationwide. Yes, add this enrollment spike to your list of "things to blame on the bad economy."
But it's a little different for California. Although the nation may be nearing the end of its economic tailspin, our sunny state's economy is far from the path of improvement. In coming years, California's return transfer rates are expected to continue growing, even if the nation sees the opposite trend.
As a significant - and growing - part of the community college population, they deserve as much attention from administrations as high school graduate enrollees.
The added strain of more students has the potential to negatively impact everyone's community college experience - getting your necessary classes becomes even more of an uphill battle, parking lots fill up more quickly and resources get thinner.