Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine Russian-speaking first-generation immigrant students' experiences regarding the transfer process from the Los Rios Community College District to California State University, Sacramento, in order to identify important issues affecting this process. There were three main research questions addressed in the study: What are Russian-speaking first-generation immigrant students' perceptions about the transfer process from the Los Rios Community College District to CSUS? What are the economic, social, or academic factors that hinder or facilitate transfer of this group of students from the Los Rios Community College District to CSUS? What recommendations do Russian-speaking first-generation immigrant students have regarding the transfer process from the Los Rios Community College District to CSUS? The sample for this study consisted of nine Russian-speaking first-generation immigrant students who transferred from the Los Rios Community College District to CSUS and were admitted and enrolled in the university in fall 2007, spring 2008, and the fall 2008 semesters. This study was designed using the qualitative method of inquiry. To gather data, the researcher conducted nine personal interviews consisting of ten openended questions regarding Russian-speaking first-generation immigrant students' perceptions of the transfer process. After analyzing the data, it became evident that the participants of this study experienced a number of barriers in their transfer processes from the Los Rios Community College District to CSUS. Such barriers included lack of knowledge of the U.S. higher education system, inadequate and ineffective academic counseling, family and work responsibilities, limited English proficiency, lack of knowledge and understanding of the financial aid system, and unawareness of the existing support services and programs. Furthermore, there were several factors discovered that facilitated their transfers and made their adjustments to the new environment of a four-year institution less problematic. Some of these factors were the participants' high level of academic preparation, their eligibility for government financial assistance such as tuition fee wavers and/or financial aid, and the articulation agreements between the Los Rios colleges and CSUS. Recommendations include the necessity of a specific ethnic category for the Russian-speaking immigrant group of students on all application forms in the local higher education institutions, the need for improvement of CSUS outreach/recruitment programs and CSUS and Los Rios counseling services, the need to design and implement a transfer facilitating program targeting Russian-speaking immigrant students, and a suggestion to employ Russian-speaking academic counselors in CSUS and the Los Rios Community College District.