This study used a web-based questionnaire to explore the effects of social and cultural capital, and community college personnel such as faculty, counselors, and other support services on the degree aspirations, transfer intentions, and perceived ability to navigate the upward transfer process of California community college hospitality management students to a four-year educational institution. The questionnaire was sent to a geographically stratified statewide sample of Latino and non-Latino California community college hospitality management students (n=2,300) in eight community college hospitality management programs throughout California.

The social capital variables were significant in explaining students’ degree aspirations and perceived ability to navigate the upward transfer process while the cultural capital variables were not significant for explaining degree aspirations, transfer intent, and their perceived ability to navigate the upward transfer process. Faculty interaction, transfer services, and general support services were all significant in explaining both degree aspirations and intent of upward transfer. None of the demographic variables were significant in explaining any of the dependent variables.

Results of this study suggest that although significant, social and cultural capital may not influence a student’s degree aspirations, transfer intent, and their perceived ability to navigate the upward transfer process. The results also show the influence community colleges, especially through faculty interaction and transfer services, can have on students once they arrive at the colleges. Faculty members can approach students to encourage this action by informing them of transfer opportunities.

Future research could survey community college hospitality management faculty to determine their attitudes towards upward transfer of students to a four-year institution. Future research can assess also students who completed upward transfer to a four-year institution to learn which factors impacted their success and compare it to the factors influencing the aspirations in this study.