Geographical Barriers to Transfer

This project explores the role of university education deserts (UED) or university deserts (UD) as a barrier for transfer-motivated community college students, notably for Latine students and students from low-income backgrounds. The core questions driving the research are:

1. What is the demographic makeup of transfer-motivated community college students living in UEDs (having no public university within 25 miles of home that has an 80%+ acceptance rate?)? How does this differ from the demographic makeup of transfer-motivated community college students in regions of similar population size that do have accessible university options?
2. What relationship, if any, is there between living in a UED (having no public university within 25 miles of home that has an 80%+ acceptance rate) and the likelihood of transfer to a baccalaureate-granting institution among transfer-motivated students? Does this relationship vary as a function of student ethnicity and/or income status? Do other factors (e.g., community college level factors) mediate this relationship?

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Project Team Information

Lead(s): Dr. Darla Cooper, Dr. Daisy Segovia

Team Member(s): Dr. Katie Brohawn, Alyssa Nguyen

Advisory Members (Name, Position, Organization at the time of membership):

• Dr. Dustin Acres, Associate Professor, Mathematics Division, Porterville College
• Marty Alvarado, Vice President of Postsecondary Education and Training, Jobs for the Future
• Dr. Angélica Garcia, Superintendent/President, Founder/Board Member of COLEGAS, Santa Rosa Junior College, COLEGAS
• Dr. Fabio González, EOPS Director/Counselor, San Jose City College, CCEOPSA<
• Dr. Sabrina Klein, Research Associate, MDRC
• Dr. Laura Lara-Brady, Senior Project Manager, West Ed Center for Economic Mobility
• Mariana Macamay, Transfer Center Coordinator, Crafton Hills College
• Dr. Kate Mahar, Associate Vice, President of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, Shasta College
• Marco Martinez, Vice President, Student Senate for California Community College
• Dr. Siria Martinez, Assistance Vice Chancellor of Student Equity and Success, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
• Dr. Daniel Miramontez, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, RP Group Board Member, San Diego Miramar College, The RP Group Board
• Tim Morehouse, Guided Pathways Lead Regional Coordinator North/Far North, Foundation for California Community College
• Dr. Olga Rodriguez, Director, PPIC Higher Education Center
• Jessie Ryan, Executive Vice President, Campaign for College Opportunity
• Saúl Valdez, Senior Program Officer ECMC Foundation
• Jessa Lewis, Valentine Senior Learning Impact Officer Ascendium Education Group
• Julia Vergara, Executive Director The Puente Project
• Dr. Kevin Walthers, Superintendent/President Allan Hancock College

Funder(s):
Ascendium Education Group