Igniting Transfer Student Success Through Strategic Partnerships and Programs NISTS Conference February 5, 2014 Stephanie M. Foote, Ph.D. Director, Master of Science in First-Year Studies Associate Professor of Education Department of First-Year and Transition Studies C. Jean So, M.Ed. Assistant Director Office of Orientation and Transition Programs Concurrent Session #1
Background Presentation Overview 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 Wrap-Up/Q&A
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 transfer students.
Transfer Students at KSU 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. Kennesaw State University (2012). Transforming the transfer experience: Findings and recommendations from the KSU Foundations of Excellence transfer self-study process.
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 Parent and Family Programs
FoE Transfer Focus Self-Study The following themes emerged through the analysis of the Dimension Committee reports: Quadrant IV Low Impact/Low Cost 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.
FoE Transfer Focus Self-Study 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. - Student comment 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
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 Activities
TRANSITION PROGRAMS Shift Gears for Success! Offering programs for new and returning students to engage in all facets of KSU. 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 Free Food, Resource Fair, Campus Bus Tour, and Information Sessions Coming Soon Tau Sigma National Honor Society for Transfer Students
Plan for Your Success at KSU... Take KSU 2290: Transfer Student Seminar this Fall! Resources for Transfer Students Important News 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. 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: 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! Information sessions on firstyear and undeclared advisement and career services Bus Tour of Campus Resource Fair with offices such as the Registrar and Student Life. Sincerely, Jean So, Assistant Director, Office of Orientation and Transition Programs cso1@kennesaw.edu Dr. Stephanie Foote, Associate Professor of Education, Department of First-Year Programs sfoote@kennesaw.edu If you have questions, please contact us at (678) 797-2471 or fyp@kennesaw.edu. 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
Transfer Student Seminar
Student Reflections
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.) Register transfer student academic honor society (Tau Sigma)
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 http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/fys/trsseminars.html
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: cso1@kennesaw.edu First-Year and Transition Studies Phone: 770.794.7919 Email: sfoote@kennesaw.edu Phone: 770.423.6503 Websites Orientation and Transition Programs http://www.kennesaw.edu/studentsuccessservices/orientation/ First-Year and Transition Studies http://www.kennesaw.edu/fyts