Presenter:

Colby Heineman

Coordinator for Transfer Student Initiatives

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Outline• Why (Identifying needs)• What (Goals of the initiative)• How (Strategies to move forward)• What-part 2(programmatic & other

efforts)• When/Who (connecting potential

transfers)

Why

• National Trends– Transfer Shock– Lack of connection and engagement on

campus• ‘C-2-C-2-C’• Small school to large school adjustments• Breaking in to established groups

• U of M is not immune

Transfer Student Experience Initiative

• Goals– Increase student success

• satisfaction, engagement, retention, & graduation

• Practice – Meet students where they are at: – Recognize the continuum of transition

Guiding questions

• How do students experience:– Transfer Process

• Admissions, Orientation, First Day & Beyond

– The campus community• How can we impact this experience?

Strategies

• Focus on direct student engagement– Expand existing opportunities– Create new opportunities

• Engage campus stakeholders– Ongoing dialog to address barriers to

student success

Initiatives• Expanded

– Welcome Events– Housing Opportunities

• Created– Peer Mentoring Program– Student Board– Honors Society– Communications Strategy

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program (opt-in)• Connect 1-1 with recent transfer, Peer Guide.• Go-to person to help connect to campus

resources and other students.• Plan events to connect to wider group of

transfers and explore campus community and resources.

• Student Leadership Opportunities• Focus: Advocacy for Transfer Student Population• Provide recommendations to enhance experience• Develop programming and initiatives to support

the transfer community.

Tau Sigma – National Honors Society

University of Minnesota Chapter• Acknowledge outstanding academic

achievement• Leadership roles on campus• National scholarships available• Est. Spring 2014

• Current membership-146

Eligibility:• GPA specific (3.5), after 1st semester• Enrolled full-time (12 credits)• Transferred with, at least, 1yr of credits

Communications Strategies

TSE Monthly• Transitional Messaging• Intentional Redundancy• Thermometer

Potential Transfers?

• Website: transfer.umn.edu• Admissions – related questions

WHAT’S NEXT????

Students should know the ‘AND’

Increasing student success = managing expectations

Admission Letter ≠ Transition Over

Colby HeinemanCoordinator for Transfer Student InitiativesUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Citiescheinema@umn.edu