Sealing the Gaps – Supporting Low-Income, First-Generation Students at Four-Year Institutions in Texas Post Transfer

This study tracked completion rates of community college transfer students — most of whom are low-income, nontraditional-aged and attending part-time — in comparison with equivalent “native” students who initially enrolled at four-year institutions, utilizing data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In addition to transfer-specific support practices, the study identified two distinct transfer support philosophies, both across and within the institutions. Case studies at five of the top transfer-receiving universities in Texas provided further insight into the challenges typically faced by transfer students, and support mechanisms designed to enhance transfer degree completion rates.

Sealing the Gaps builds on The Pell Institute’s 2009 report, Bridging the Gaps to Success, which documented promising practices at transferring low-income, first-generation students from community colleges to four-year institutions. “TG was pleased to provide the funding to study this very important topic as 82 percent of Texas freshmen are entering postsecondary education through the two-year institutional sector,” said TG’s President and CEO, Sue McMillin.