Presenter:
Colby Heineman
Coordinator for Transfer Student Initiatives
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Outline
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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.
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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 Heineman
Coordinator for Transfer Student Initiatives
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
cheinema@umn.edu