Bridges or Barriers? How Interactions between Individuals and Institutions Condition Community College Transfer (2022)

The article by Huriya Jabbar and colleagues examines the interplay between individual student characteristics and institutional support in shaping community college students' ability to successfully transfer to four-year universities. It highlights how 'transfer capital'—the specific knowledge and skills needed to navigate the transfer process—is influenced by both institutional practices and students' personal and social backgrounds. Using longitudinal qualitative data, the study delves into the experiences of transfer-intending community college students, exploring how they access and accumulate transfer capital over time.

Main Takeaways:

• Influence of Institutional Practices: The study underscores the importance of supportive institutional practices, such as advising and transfer-specific services, in facilitating students' transfer processes.
• Role of Transfer Capital: Students need to accumulate transfer capital, which includes understanding transfer policies, admission requirements, and credit applicability, to successfully navigate the complexities of transferring.
• Impact of Individual Backgrounds: Students' personal backgrounds, including their socio-economic status and family support, significantly affect their ability to gather and utilize transfer capital.
• Interaction of Social and Institutional Factors: The accumulation of transfer capital is conditioned by an interaction between students' backgrounds and the support provided by institutions. Effective institutional support can mitigate disadvantages stemming from students' personal circumstances.
• Policy Implications: The findings suggest that community colleges and transfer destinations need to develop targeted support mechanisms that address both broad and specific needs of diverse student populations to improve transfer success rates.