Kawalilak, ColleenSmalcel Pederson, Kristine2015-07-312015-11-202015-07-312015http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2374This qualitative dual case study examined how administrators from two universities in the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) implemented provincial policy at their university’s transfer credit and undergraduate level. The universities selected for the study were instrumental cases, facilitating understanding and insight of the institutions and their administrators as well as the public post-secondary system in general. The case universities represented two types of higher education institution in the BC post-secondary system that are important to baccalaureate education; namely, one research university and one new university-title and teaching institution. I explored interpretations of baccalaureate education, transfer credit, and related students’ experiences from multiple perspectives in a higher education organizational culture system. For the participants in the research, defining transfer, transfer mandates, and policy were personal, often historically derived concepts. For some participants, it was a limited, traditional definition; others demonstrated a wide understanding of transfer as part of the larger mobility concept. The research illuminated individual understanding of the research questions, reinforced known challenges, and identified opportunities for policy, practice, and research. My assumptions that students were highly regarded by case study participants and their institutions was supported in the research, but participants reflected confusion and frustration with the transfer credit process, for various reasons. The participants from the case universities represented multiple perspectives and interpretations, and the system was correspondingly complex.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Education--AdministrationEducation--HigherEducation--Sociology ofTransfer CreditMobilityMeaningBaccalaureateorganizational cultureCase Studydoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/25098