Pathways and Barriers to Undergraduate Education:The case of art & design programs
Deanne Fisher Associate Vice-President, StudentsOCAD University@deannefisherMarch 1, 2013
OCAD UNIVERSITY 2
OCAD U: the University of the Imagination4,000+ students in 13 undergraduate programs
1000+ new admits each year, about 200 with transfer credit
OCAD UNIVERSITY 3
PATHWAYS TO OCAD U
• Portfolio-based admissions• Advanced standing • Course-by-course
credit transfer• Articulation agreements with
colleges
4
NSSE 2011Since graduating from high school, which of the following types of schools have you attended other than the one you are attending now? [Senior year respondents]
12% 11%
30%
15%
50%
5
NSSE 2011Since graduating from high school, which of the following types of schools have you attended other than the one you are attending now? [Senior Year respondents]
12% 11%
30%
15%
50%
8% 9%15%
9%
68%
OCAD U Ontario
Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSFER STUDENTS
1. Do transfer students commit/engage/complete/succeed?
2. What motivates transfer students to come to OCAD U?
3. What is their experience of the transfer process?
4. Do we need to build more supports for transfer students?
Mix of quantitative and qualitative methods
Funded by CUCC/ONCAT in January 2012
Research team:
Mary Wilson, Director of the Centre for Innovation in Art & Design Education
Eric Nay, Associate Dean, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Science
Laura Wood, Manager, Institutional Analysis
Deanne Fisher, Associate Vice-President, Students
Polly Buechel, Administrative Coordinator
4 Research Assistants
James D.A. Parker, Robyn Taylor, Holly Kristensen from Trent University
Pathways and Barriers to Art & Design Undergraduate Education for Students with Previous College or University Experience
OCAD UNIVERSITY 7
Interior work by Aamna Muzaffar ‘12
Comparing high school entrants to college and university transfers using NSSE
Among senior year students:• Time Usage: High school entrants spent
more time than college and university entrants relaxing or socializing.
• Academic Experiences: College and university entrants were more likely than high school entrants to participate in class discussions.
• Academic Performance: No significant difference in grades between the three groups
OCAD UNIVERSITY 9Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12
QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY
39 interviews over a two-week period:• 21 with previous university experience
– Mean age: 27– 45% male– Transfer credits of between .5 and 6.5– Most not from art & design programs
• 18 with Ontario college experience– Mean age: 23– 22% male– Transfer credits of between 1.0 and 7.5– Majority from art & design programs– Majority had completed college programs
10
BRIAN MORE LIVING WITH THE PAIN OF REGRET
OCAD UNIVERSITY 11Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12
DECISION FACTORS
Original choices of institution were based on:• Interest/passion in the subject• Location (either to get away from home or
to stay close to home)• Uncertainty/meeting expectations of others
(BA as the default)• As a means of getting into OCAD U
OCAD UNIVERSITY 12Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12
TRANSFER PROCESS
Pain points in the process include:• Difficulty locating the information• Length of time to get an answer regarding
transfer credits• Securing the required documents (syllabi)• The results: most students from both
cohorts were disappointed with the credits granted
OCAD UNIVERSITY 13Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12
Among university transfers:• Students experience difficulty moving
from the formulaic to the emotionally intense
• Students indicated they were unlikely to take advantage of any supports to help with this
TRANSITION
OCAD UNIVERSITY 14Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12
Among college transfers:• Students experience difficulty moving
from the concrete to the abstract• Students indicated an interest in
supports to help with this
TRANSITION
OCAD UNIVERSITY 15Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12
IMPLICATIONS + DISCUSSION
OCAD UNIVERSITY 16Interior work by Marc O’Brien ‘12
TRANSFER AS PART OF ENROLMENT STRATEGY
OCAD UNIVERSITY 17Interior work by Theresa Duong ‘12
TRANSFER PROCESS
OCAD UNIVERSITY 18Interior work by Erin Loree ‘12
SUPPORT FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
OCAD UNIVERSITY 19
THANK YOU
Deanne Fisher
Associate Vice-President, Students
OCAD University
(416) 977 6000 x. 2850
@deannefisher