Selecting a Transfer Student Success Training Program

Igniting Transfer Student Success

Through Strategic Partnerships and

Programs

NISTS Conference

February 5, 2014

Stephanie M. Foote, Ph.D.

C. Jean So, M.Ed.

Director, Master of Science in First-Year Studies Assistant Director

Associate Professor of Education Office of Orientation and Transition Programs Department of First-Year and Transition Studies

Presentation Overview

 Background

‒ Kennesaw State University, Department of First-Year and Transition

Studies, and Office of Orientation and Transition Programs

‒ Foundations of Excellence – Transfer Focus self-study process and

salient findings

 Igniting Positive Change

‒ Changes to the departmental names and missions

‒ Development of curricular and co-curricular programs

 Path Forward

‒ Transfer Advisory Council

‒ Best practices and resources

Kennesaw State University

‒ Third-largest university in

Georgia (~25,000 students)

‒ Located northwest of Atlanta

‒ 80 bachelor's, master's, and

doctoral programs

‒ On average, approximately

half of our new, incoming

students each fall are

Data from the last six years indicate that

60% of students graduating are transfer

students compared to 40% who are native

(i.e., non-transfers who start and finish at

KSU). Clearly, transfer students are the

predominant group that enters and is

successful at completing their

undergraduate degree.

Transfer Students at KSU

Kennesaw State University (2012). Transforming the transfer experience: Findings and recommendations from the KSU Foundations

Department of First-Year and Transition Studies

• The Department of First-Year and Transition

Studies is in the

University College and includes instructors and tenure-track faculty from across the disciplines. • The department offers

four distinct first-year seminars: KSU 1101, 1111, 1121, and 1200. Additionally, KSU 2290 (special topics) is offered periodically, and in 2015, the department will offer a graduate program in First-Year Studies.

Office of Orientation and Transition Programs

• Orientation and Transition Programs is housed within the Department of Student Success Services.

• Staff is led by a Director with three Assistant Directors, a Coordinator, and a Business Manager.

Programmatic Areas Include: • IGNITION Orientation

Programs for First-Years, Transfers, Parents and

Families, and Web Learners • Transition Programs for all

students, but with new focus on transfer initiatives

FoE – Transfer Focus Self-Study

The following themes emerged through the analysis of the Dimension Committee reports:

• Expand staff dedicated to transfer students.

• Institute ways to communicate more effectively and intentionally with transfer students.

• Create specific programs. • Re-evaluate/redesign transfer

orientation.

• Inform campus of FoE process/results. • Train chairs, faculty, and staff on transfer

student needs.

• Improve and increase interactions with feeder institutions.

• Improve the advising experience for transfer students.

Quadrant IV Low Impact/Low Cost

FoE – Transfer Focus Self-Study

“…it’s important to remember that this school has a lot

of adult students who have to work and almost

everything takes place when students are at work.”

- Student comment

“Be clear on the extra classes that are

required to take after transferring. Be

more clear on what classes transfer

over; there are still some classes that

I am unsure as to whether they count

or not.”

- Student comment

“I am a transfer student. Outside of

transfer orientation, I don’t feel like

any outreach was made to help me

to become aware and accustomed to

the ways of KSU. It’s been difficult

transitioning from another state.”

Igniting Positive Change

‒ Changes to departmental names and

missions

‒ Addition of a new Assistant Director

‒ Ignition Transfer Orientation Program

‒ Transfer Student Kick-Off

‒ Transition Programs Email

‒ Additional Week of Welcome

TRANSITION PROGRAMS

Shift Gears for Success!

KSU 2290: Transfer Student Seminar (CRN 82515)

This course is designed specifically for new students who have transferred to the university.

Develop academic and personal success strategies Become engaged in the campus and community Identify major and career opportunities

Establish a global perspective

Network with fellow transfer students and get to know the campus together

Any entering transfer student, regardless of credit hours they enter with, can register for this course. If they are under 15 hours, the course will fulfill the first-year requirement.

Transfer Student Kick-off at the Commons, 2-5pm

Coming Soon…

Tau Sigma National Honor Society for Transfer Students

Offering programs for new and returning students to

Plan for Your Success at KSU...

Take KSU 2290: Transfer Student Seminar this Fall! Resources for Transfer

Students Important News Transfer Student Kick-Off Thursday, August 15th

Join us at the Commons between 2pm-5pm for free food and a chance to meet fellow transfer students new

to KSU. Faculty and staff from various departments will

be on hand to help further prepare you for the fall

semester. Highlights will include:

 Information sessions on first-year and undeclared advisement and career services  Bus Tour of Campus

 Resource Fair with offices such as the Registrar and Student Life.

Hello from Kennesaw State University!

We are excited you have chosen KSU and we look forward to seeing you at your upcoming Ignition new student orientation. At Ignition, you'll have the opportunity to learn about our campus, receive advisement, and register for your fall classes.

One of the classes you will learn about at Ignition is KSU 2290: Transfer

Student Seminar. This 10-week, 2-credit hour course is specifically

designed for new students transferring to the university. KSU 2290 includes information and topics that successful transfer students said they wish they had known when they transferred to KSU. This class will help you develop academic and personal success strategies, identify major and career opportunities, establish a global perspective, and best of all, become engaged in the campus and community.

To register for KSU 2290: Transfer Student Seminar, look for CRN 82515 in Owl Express, or contact us for additional information.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Owl Family!

Sincerely,

Jean So, Assistant Director, Office of Orientation and Transition Programs

[email protected]

Dr. Stephanie Foote, Associate Professor of Education, Department of

First-Year Programs

[email protected]

If you have questions, please contact us at (678) 797-2471 or

[email protected]. We are happy to help! See you at Ignition.

Transfer Student Seminar

‒ 2-credit hour course offered in

fall 2013

‒ Assignments included a

Student Engagement Plan and

a culminating portfolio

‒ Students in the class were

exposed to information and

resources related to

engagement/involvement,

undergraduate research, and

academic majors/success skills

and strategies

Student

Path Forward

‒ Develop a campus-wide Transfer Advisory Council

‒ Engage in Foundations of Excellence (FoE) Refresh Study

‒ Begin discussion on mandatory online orientation for transfers

‒ Institute pre-semester activities for KSU 2290 seminar course

‒ Reiterate academic rigor of course with incoming students

‒ Revisit idea for transfer student focused living-learning

community

‒ Continue brainstorming ideas on transfer student programs and

events (i.e., ambassadors/mentors, discipline-specific, parent

programs, academic advising focus, etc.)

Resources

Miller, M. T., & Hillis, S. R. (2006). Transfer students. In L. A. Gohn & G. R. Albin (Eds.),

Understanding college student subpopulations: A guide for student affairs

professionals (pp. 295-311). Washington, DC: NASPA Student Affairs Administrators

in Higher Education.

Foote, S. M., Hinkle, S., Kranzow, J., Pistilli, M., Rease Miles, L., & Simmons, J. (2013).

College students in transition: An annotated bibliography. Columbia, SC: University

of South Carolina, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students

http://blog.ung.edu/transferinstitute/

Council for the Advancement of Standards for Higher Education (CAS) – Role of Transfer Student Programs and Services

http://www.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=1C93DD47-0676-FCF1-0903338D7B2FCE15

UMBC Transfer Student Seminars and Transfer Undergraduate Research

Contact Information

Stephanie M. Foote, Ph.D. C. Jean So, M.Ed.

Associate Professor of Education Assistant Director

Director, Master of Science in Orientation and Transition Programs

First-Year Studies Email: [email protected]

First-Year and Transition Studies Phone: 770.794.7919

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 770.423.6503

Websites

Orientation and Transition Programs

http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccessservices/orientation/

First-Year and Transition Studies