Transfer Students
And the Traditional First Year Program
Transfer Students are
Often Overlooked…
“At a recent staff meeting we were
discussing programs and services
for new freshmen, when someone
remarked, ‘Don’t forget we have
three hundred transfer students
coming in.’ As I left I realized that
we had not spent any time
considering transfer students. Are
we alone in overlooking them in
our planning and programming?”
(Barr & Sandeen, 2009)
Common Transfer Student
Issues
 Increasing transfer student
enrollment
◦ Current economic conditions
 Attend less costly 2 year community college
 Transfer to a 4 year institution to complete
Bachelor’s degree
 Veterans returning from deployment
 Course
equivalency discrepancies
Not Your Typical First Year
 Wide
variety of students
◦ Veterans returning from tour of duty
◦ Students balancing home life, school,
and work
◦ Underemployed workforce
◦ Students who have completed one
semester or year of coursework
◦ Students who have completed up to
three years of coursework
Transfer Program
Goals
• Successful transition from sending institution
to receiving institution
• Successful transition to Muskingum
University’s academic expectations and
campus life
• Meet Muskingum University’s mission by
aiding in the education of the “whole person”
as described in mission statement
Transfer Student Program
Creation of Website for Transfer
Include:
Students
Admission Information
Articulation
Agreements
Course Equivalencies
Establish Transfer
Orientation Program
“Transfer students are
often ignored in retention
efforts, including
activities as basic as
orientation to campus”
(Townsend & Wilson,
2006).
Orientation Program Basics
Campus tour
 Course schedule changes
 ID cards
 Parking permits
 Student life information

◦ Housing
◦ Getting involved
◦ Extra-curricular activities

Faculty presentation
◦ Academic expectations
◦ Academic rigor

Where to go for help
◦ Academic
◦ Social
Transfer Seminar
Aid in transition from former institution to
Muskingum University
 Student input into material covered
 Transfer student mentor
 Topics typically covered

◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Muskingum history
Academic Dishonesty
Library tour
Rules and regulations
Academic completion plans
Course registration procedures
 Major declaration/Advisor change

Institute Learning Communities
“Learning communities
and first year seminars
aid in students becoming
more integrated with the
campus”
(Townsend & Wilson,
2006).
Establishing learning communities for transfer
students will aid in student bonding as well as
facilitate engagement with the University.
Create Focus Group
Valuable insights from transfer students
 “Find out from transfer students what makes the
most sense to them to help in marketing and
engagement to the University” (Barr & Sandeen,
2009)
 Feedback from transfer students regarding success
of transfer program with regard to integration to
campus
 Monthly meetings
 Study groups
 National Honorary – Tau Sigma
 Housing issues

Benefits of
Transfer Student Program
Places transfer students on same playing field as first year and native students.
Increases matriculation rates
Aids in integration to campus
Increases retention rates
Increases graduation rates
References
Ashburn, Elyse, Bartlett, Thoms & Wolverston, Brad (2006). 2-YearCollege Students Rarely Use Advisers, Survey Shows. Chronicle
of
Higher Education, 53 (15), A1-A29.
Barr, Margaret & Sandeen, Art (2009). Five Ways to Improve the
Transfer
Student Experience. Student Affairs Leader , 37 (18), 3-6.
Grites, Thomas J., Kerr, Thomas J. & King, Margaret C., (Eds.) (2004).
Advising Transfer Students: Issues and Strategies. Manhattan,
Kansas: National Academic Advising Association.
Lipka, Sara (2008). Survey Finds Transfer Students Disengaged, but
Some Colleges Are Working to Change That. Chronicle of Higher
Education, 55 (12), A31-A31.
Townsend, Barbara K. & Wilson, Kristin B. (2006). “A Hand Hold for a
Little Bit”: Factors Facilitating the Success of Community College
Transfer Students to a Large Research University. Journal of
College Student Development, 47 (4), 441-456.
The Transfer Program
Questions and Answers
Suggestions