2015 Transfer Specialist Conference Agenda
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Sponsored by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Cragun’s Resort & Hotel on Gull Lake
7:00 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
Room – Lakeside Dining Room
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Registration
Hotel Lobby Area
8:30 am – 8:40 am
Welcome - Louise DiCesare
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2
8:40 am – 8:50 am
Opening Remarks
Ron Anderson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Vice Chancellor for Academic and
Student Affairs
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2
8:50 am – 10:45 am
Responding to Rules that Govern Transfer Panel
A panel of presenters will discuss how their colleges or universities respond to the rules that
govern transfer. Topics will include: state legislation, school policies, procedures, guidelines and
best practices.
Kenegunda Miller and Thomas Leno, Bismarck State College
Linda Young, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Heather Rondeau, University of Minnesota - Duluth
Nicole Coppersmith, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Dawn Bjork-Pedersen, Ridgewater College
Jolene Richardson, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2
10:45 am – 11:00 am
Break
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Session 1: PSEO and Concurrent Enrollment
Hear how the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities work with PSEO and Concurrent Enrollment. Topics will include processes,
procedures, policies, guidelines, issues and concerns.
Pakou Yang and Jessica Espinosa, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Julie Williams, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2
Session 2: Transfer Pathways
This session will provide an overview of the transfer legislation from 2015 that describes the
development of transfer pathways from two-year colleges to the seven state universities.
Lynda Milne, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Room – Paul Bunyan 1
Session 3: Communicating With Students About Transfer
This session will explore the different ways institutions communicate with their students about
transfer. Topics will include: separate orientation, training sessions, communication methods,
when communication is conducted, registration dates, special advisors, how are the faculty
involved in the communication, what are key things that staff discuss with transfer students.
Deanna Pelley, Concordia University, St. Paul
Charlotte Nordstrom, Century College
Room – Paul Bunyan 2
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch– Lakeside Dining Room
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Session 1: Competition Out, Cooperation In
Normandale Community College, Metropolitan State University, and Minnesota State University,
Mankato are working to set students up for success when they transfer to the university. Learn
how these MnSCU institutions do what is best for the students when it comes to preparing and
transferring to a bachelors program within the Partnership Center. The presenters will talk about
the history of the partnership, successful transfer and where they go from here.
Diem Vo, Normandale Community College
Ashley Wetherspoon, Metropolitan State University
Erin Harley and Paj Ntaub Lee, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Changing Paradigms within Higher Education Access: The Auggie Plan
Augsburg College and Minneapolis Community and Technical College formed a unique
partnership that was meant to simplify the transfer process and rethink access to a 4-year, private
liberal arts institution. With shared commitments to diversity, experiential education, and student
success, challenges and successes will be shared, as well as the uniqueness of the plan in
relation to curriculum, co-curricular aspects, and joint services.
Aaron Salasek and Catherine Bishop, Augsburg College
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2
Session 2: Nursing Student Transfer
Learn about the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) program at Metropolitan State
University and Augsburg College’s process for working with Nursing transfer students. This
session will touch on wait lists, pre-requisites, requirements and other possible options for
undecided students. The session will also include a facilitated discussion.
Julio Vargas-Essex, Metropolitan State University
Janet Lestock, Augsburg College
Room – Paul Bunyan 1
Session 3: From Application to Graduation-The Transfer Student Experience
At Saint Paul College, transfer students receive academic and transfer advising from the moment
they apply through graduation. This session will focus on effective practices used by Transfer
Specialists to admit and advise community and technical college students with a variety of majors
and educational goals. Attendees will be invited to share their own experiences and practices.
Emily Batres, Laura Bebinger and Tarah Bjorklund, Saint Paul College
Room – Paul Bunyan 2
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Break
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Session 1: International Transfer
Hear what the process is at Winona State University and St. Catherine University for working with
international student transfer. Topics will include: Canada/UK/Virgin Island transfer vs other
international transfer, how to evaluate international transcripts using NACES (National
Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or in house evaluation, how to reach out to
international students, staffing, scholarships and housing.
Sarah Curtin, Winona State University
Aimee Thostenson, St. Catherine University
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2
Session 2: Promoting Transferology
Learn about the unique and effective ways the University of Minnesota – Duluth and Metropolitan
State University promote Transferology to their students, advisors and faculty. The session will
also include a facilitated discussion.
Sarah Hatfield and Heather Rondeau, University of Minnesota - Duluth
Jessica Migler, Metropolitan State University
Room – Paul Bunyan 1
Session 3: Transfer – Tools, Barriers and Opportunities
Come see how MACAC (Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling) connects
these admissions professionals together and fosters their own professional development. You will
take away MACAC and NACAC tools and resources geared toward transfer populations. Insight
will be shared on new transfer initiatives and programs across their institutions. The panel
encourages idea sharing and participation for the next steps needed to address barriers and
opportunities we all face when working with this important population.
Bryan Karl, The College of St. Scholastica
Genna Anderson, Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Room – Paul Bunyan 2
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Closing/Feedback
Room – Lakeshore 1 & 2