The Denominator as the “Target”

Various analyses have used the transfer rate as a performance indicator for community colleges, but the question of what constitutes an appropriate denominator in the transfer-rate equation remains a point of contention. This article examines the potential drawbacks of using student-reported educational goals to determine which students are included in the denominator and notes how the behavioral signal approach—based on the courses students take and complete—may be a more appropriate alternative. In addition, the article discusses the prospects of employing a “transfer opportunity diagnosis” based on multiple indicators.