Suggests that community college administrators know too little about the students already possessing baccalaureate degrees who are now entering community colleges in increasing numbers to seek a degree or certificate specifically to change their employment pattern and/or life-style. Recommends that community colleges carefully study this group and…

Considers a new facet in the articulation problem between two- and four-year colleges. (Author/RK)

Reviews and provides examples of the phenomenon of the reverse transfer student, the four-year college graduate who enrolls in the community college to learn a technical skill. (JG)

Transfer (i.e., the movement of students and of their academic credits from one school to another) and articulation (i.e., services for transfer students) can no longer be thought of solely in terms of the linear progression of community college students to four-year institutions. While definitions and counting procedures vary considerably among…

Discusses a national study on postsecondary transfer and articulation. Finds that the majority of state higher education agencies collect transfer-related data and are prepared to use information to pursue improvements in the transfer environment, but that there appears to be a disconnection between the collection of transfer student information…

This paper describes a study conducted on a group of reverse transfer students (students that enroll at two-year colleges after attending a four-year baccalaureate institution) to increase knowledge about this growing population and address the shortcomings of previous research. Almost 1,400 reverse transfer students were sent surveys. According…

Data from a survey directed at reverse transfer students in the University of Kentucky Community College System was analyzed based upon the responses from two groups: 734 completers (those who had completed a baccalaureate) and 148 noncompleters. Profiles of reverse transfer students are compiled. Contains 28 references. (TGO)

Describes a study conducted to gather information about the number of two-year college students who hold baccalaureate degrees. Finds that, for academic year 1997-98: (1) 12,946 students out of 753,255 already had bachelor's degrees, 2,527 had master's degrees, and 142 had doctoral degrees; and (2) criminal justice development was the most popular…

A study was conducted to provide information on the educational, economic, and personal characteristics of students in the Los Rios Community College District (California) and to compare the characteristics of first-time students (FTS); students who transferred from other community colleges, including noncompleter lateral transfer students (NCLT)…

A post-baccalaureate reverse transfer student is a community college student who has completed a baccalaureate or higher degree prior to enrolling in a community college. This study was conducted to better understand post-baccalaureate reverse transfer students who enroll in community college degree or certificate programs; it sought to…

Postsecondary education needs to encourage open recognition of reverse (four-year college to two-year college) and lateral (two-year to two-year college) transfers not recognized in traditional articulation efforts, and develop constructive programs for them. (MSE)

In this article, the authors discuss the alternate degree paths for both non-traditional and traditional students and offer ways for institutions to accommodate nontraditional students. Students attend multiple institutions of higher education for myriad reasons. Increasingly common, a student may start a four-year institution and then do a…

In January 1986, the Coordinating Board of the Texas College and University System conducted a longitudinal study of college transfer using course enrollment data. The study identified all first-time students enrolled in general academic courses in Texas public community and junior colleges in fall 1981 (N=92,519) and matched them by social…

Describes reverse transfers (i.e., students who transfer from four-year to two-year colleges) in terms of demographics, educational goals, and academic performance, using survey and academic data from 13 two-year colleges. Finds significant differences between reverse transfers and two-year natives in terms of race and other demographic…

Reviews recent research on the characteristics of reverse transfer students. Reverse transfer students are defined, their reasons for reverse transfer are discussed, and their academic activities and achievements are noted. Suggestions for additional research in this area are presented. (Author/JDS)