How Political and Ecological Contexts Shape Community College Transfer.

Area of Science:

• Higher Education Policy
• Sociology of Education
• Organizational Theory

Background:

• Community college to university transfer is a critical pathway in higher education.
• Existing power structures within higher education influence transfer processes.
• Understanding the 'strategic action fields' of transfer is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the role of political-ecological contexts in vertical transfer.
• To examine how institutional actors and students navigate transfer rules and norms.
• To understand the power dynamics in the community college transfer field.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using interviews with administrators, staff, and students.
• Data collected from two Texas community college districts and public universities statewide.
• Analysis informed by strategic action fields theory.

Main Results:

• University administrators and staff hold dominant positions, dictating transfer rules.
• Community college students face significant information burdens to facilitate transfer.
• Lack of institutional collaboration creates a fragmented and disadvantageous information landscape for students.

Conclusions:

• The transfer field is structured to benefit universities, placing the onus on students.
• Community college personnel, despite awareness, reinforce existing university-centric norms.
• Systemic changes are needed to create a more equitable transfer process for community college students.