Western’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE) surveys all new transfer students who begin their Western education in fall quarter. The WELS Transfer Baseline Survey is administered at transfer orientations in July, August and September, and via email. Responses are collected prior to the start of fall classes.
Transfer Cohorts
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in fall quarter 2023. Of the 997 transfer student entering the fall of 2023, OIE received responses from 549, a response rate of 55.1%.
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in fall quarter 2022. Of the 1,072 transfer student entering the fall of 2022, OIE received responses from 603, a response rate of 56.2%.
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in fall quarter of 2019+. (response statistics are available in the report)
Fall 2016-2018 updated report coming soon
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2015. Of the 1,155 transfer students entering the fall of 2014, OIE received responses from 891, a response rate of 77.1%
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2014. Of the 1,136 transfer students entering the fall of 2014, OIE received responses from 801, a response rate of 70.5%. Topics included: previous college engagement and experiences, the college application process, course scheduling, academic skills and goals, major choice, expenses and employment, and demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2013. Of the 1,042 transfer students entering the fall of 2013, OIE received responses from 724, a response rate of 69.5%. Topics included: previous college engagement and experiences, the college application process, course scheduling, academic skills and goals, major choice, expenses and employment, and demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2012. Of the 1,096 transfer students entering the fall of 2012, OIE received responses from 804, a response rate of 73.4%. Topics included: Previous college engagement and experiences; college application process; class schedule and expectations; academic skills and goals; major choice and declaration; expenses and employment; technology; demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2011. Of the 1,114 transfer students entering the fall of 2011, OIE received responses from 760, a response rate of 68.2%. Survey topics included: Previous college engagement and experiences; college application process; class schedule and expectations; academic skills and goals; major choice and declaration; expenses and employment; demographics; and items requested by the Office of Sustainable Transportation.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2010. Of the 1,047 transfer students entering in the fall of 2010, OIE received responses from 614, a response rate of 58.6%. Survey topics included: previous college engagement and experiences; college application process; familiarity and comfort with Western; skills, goals and expectations; major choice and declaration; expenses and employment; and demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Students Entering as Transfers Fall, 2009. Of the 898 Fall 2009 transfer students, 534 responded to the Survey, a response rate of 59.5%. The Survey is divided into six subject areas: previous college engagement and experiences; the most recent college application process; familiarity and comfort with Western; skills, goals and expectations; expenses and employment; and demographics.
Fall 2008 Baseline of Transfers Entering Fall 2008. This report presents findings from the fall, 2008, baseline survey of entering transfers, a total of 973 students. There were 483 online responses and 297 phone responses, for an 81% response rate. Survey topics included: previous education; attendance at Transitions; academic confidence; expectations as transfers enter Western; majors and minors; and personal backgrounds.
Fall 2005 Transitions Survey. This report presents findings from the end-of-fall-quarter, 2005, “transitions” survey for transfers. Questions were designed to help better understand the nature of their first quarter experience with respect to their personal, social and academic adjustment; the kinds of personal, financial, and academic pressures and difficulties they experienced; their use of student services (including advising) and newly implemented student services programs (e.g., an enhanced “Western Reads” program); and their overall satisfaction with Western after one quarter. Most of these same questions were asked of the fall, 2005, incoming freshmen, thus facilitating comparisons between these two groups, keeping in mind, of course, that the freshmen were just entering college while transfers had junior standing during this first quarter.
Fall 2005 Baseline of In-Coming Transfers is the first comprehensive survey of transfer students in Western’s history. Transfers were asked questions on a variety of topics including previous educational experiences, transfer student orientation, expectations about their Western experience, their major and advising, personal background, and future plans.
New Transfer Focus Group Summary. OIE randomly selected transfers entering Western in fall of 2004 to participate in a focus group study about students’ expectations and experiences, both academic and social. The research was designed to explore transfer students’ experiences as they transition into Western, and focused particularly on the challenges they face. This information will inform OIE’s plans for the WELS transfer survey, a large-scale study of transfer entering in fall of 2005.
Transfer Cohorts
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in fall quarter 2023. Of the 997 transfer student entering the fall of 2023, OIE received responses from 549, a response rate of 55.1%.
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in fall quarter 2022. Of the 1,072 transfer student entering the fall of 2022, OIE received responses from 603, a response rate of 56.2%.
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in fall quarter of 2019+. (response statistics are available in the report)
Fall 2016-2018 updated report coming soon
The WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2015. Of the 1,155 transfer students entering the fall of 2014, OIE received responses from 891, a response rate of 77.1%
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2014. Of the 1,136 transfer students entering the fall of 2014, OIE received responses from 801, a response rate of 70.5%. Topics included: previous college engagement and experiences, the college application process, course scheduling, academic skills and goals, major choice, expenses and employment, and demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2013. Of the 1,042 transfer students entering the fall of 2013, OIE received responses from 724, a response rate of 69.5%. Topics included: previous college engagement and experiences, the college application process, course scheduling, academic skills and goals, major choice, expenses and employment, and demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2012. Of the 1,096 transfer students entering the fall of 2012, OIE received responses from 804, a response rate of 73.4%. Topics included: Previous college engagement and experiences; college application process; class schedule and expectations; academic skills and goals; major choice and declaration; expenses and employment; technology; demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2011. Of the 1,114 transfer students entering the fall of 2011, OIE received responses from 760, a response rate of 68.2%. Survey topics included: Previous college engagement and experiences; college application process; class schedule and expectations; academic skills and goals; major choice and declaration; expenses and employment; demographics; and items requested by the Office of Sustainable Transportation.
WELS Baseline Survey of Transfers Entering Western in the Fall, 2010. Of the 1,047 transfer students entering in the fall of 2010, OIE received responses from 614, a response rate of 58.6%. Survey topics included: previous college engagement and experiences; college application process; familiarity and comfort with Western; skills, goals and expectations; major choice and declaration; expenses and employment; and demographics.
WELS Baseline Survey of Students Entering as Transfers Fall, 2009. Of the 898 Fall 2009 transfer students, 534 responded to the Survey, a response rate of 59.5%. The Survey is divided into six subject areas: previous college engagement and experiences; the most recent college application process; familiarity and comfort with Western; skills, goals and expectations; expenses and employment; and demographics.
Fall 2008 Baseline of Transfers Entering Fall 2008. This report presents findings from the fall, 2008, baseline survey of entering transfers, a total of 973 students. There were 483 online responses and 297 phone responses, for an 81% response rate. Survey topics included: previous education; attendance at Transitions; academic confidence; expectations as transfers enter Western; majors and minors; and personal backgrounds.
Fall 2005 Transitions Survey. This report presents findings from the end-of-fall-quarter, 2005, “transitions” survey for transfers. Questions were designed to help better understand the nature of their first quarter experience with respect to their personal, social and academic adjustment; the kinds of personal, financial, and academic pressures and difficulties they experienced; their use of student services (including advising) and newly implemented student services programs (e.g., an enhanced “Western Reads” program); and their overall satisfaction with Western after one quarter. Most of these same questions were asked of the fall, 2005, incoming freshmen, thus facilitating comparisons between these two groups, keeping in mind, of course, that the freshmen were just entering college while transfers had junior standing during this first quarter.
Fall 2005 Baseline of In-Coming Transfers is the first comprehensive survey of transfer students in Western’s history. Transfers were asked questions on a variety of topics including previous educational experiences, transfer student orientation, expectations about their Western experience, their major and advising, personal background, and future plans.
New Transfer Focus Group Summary. OIE randomly selected transfers entering Western in fall of 2004 to participate in a focus group study about students’ expectations and experiences, both academic and social. The research was designed to explore transfer students’ experiences as they transition into Western, and focused particularly on the challenges they face. This information will inform OIE’s plans for the WELS transfer survey, a large-scale study of transfer entering in fall of 2005.