fostering successful transitions through transfer student orientation january 27, 2010
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Fostering Successful Transitions through Transfer Student Orientation January 27, 2010 NISTS Annual Conference Addison, Texas. Mike Knox University of Texas at Arlington [email protected] Shandol Hoover University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [email protected] Katie Granholm - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Fostering Successful Transitions through Transfer Student Orientation
January 27, 2010NISTS Annual Conference
Addison, Texas
Mike KnoxUniversity of Texas at [email protected]
Shandol HooverUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel [email protected]
Katie GranholmUniversity of Minnesota Twin Cities [email protected]
Chelsea RuffDePaul [email protected]
Mission: The mission of the National Orientation Directors Association is to provide education, leadership and professional development in the fields of college student orientation, transition and retention
Core Values: Community, Diversity, Integrity, Learning, Scholarship, Service.
What we know about TransfersNumbers are Growing
o Almost 60% of students who graduating from 4-yr institutions began at a different institution
o Almost 1/3 of college students have transferred at least once
Graduation Rates Compared to Native Studentso Transfers are less likely to graduate in 4 yearso Transfers are just as likely to complete a degree program
There is much Diversity within Transfer Populationo Types of transfer experience (traditional, lateral, reverse, swirling)o Number of earned credits, educational aspirations, length of time between
educational experienceso Age, outside commitments (work, family), first-generation status, ethnic
diversity Sources: Jacobs, B. (2008, January) Transfer Orientation. Session presented at Annual National Orientation Directors Association Conference, Boston, MA. National Center for Education Statistics (2007). The condition of education. Washington, DC: Bureau of Postsecondary Education.
Who is your transfer population?Before you make decisions about the size, nature and offerings of your program, you need to know the following:
How many transfer students make up your student body?
What are your top feeder schools?What majors are attracting your transfer students?How academically prepared are your transfer
students?What experiences are your transfer students having
once they arrive on your campus?
Purpose of Orientation
Provide students with attitudes, knowledge, skills and opportunities that will assist them in making a smooth transition to university or college community thereby allowing them to become engaged and productive university community members.
Effective Transfer Orientation ProgramsAre based upon institution-specific transfer population
needsSupport institutional missionExtend across entire campus communityCelebrate prior transfer student experiences and address
current and future concernsAssist students through academic and social transitionsFacilitate connections with current campus community
membersAddress concerns of parents/familiesAre consistently assessed for effectiveness
Orientation Program Considerations:When should you offer your program?
o During school/work day?o Evening or weekend?
How long should your program be?o How long will your students commit?o What do you need to accomplish?
Should your program be mandatory?o If you make your program mandatory, you should be prepared to
offer evidence that it will or does make a difference by building assessment into your program!
Orientation Offerings
Data tells us transfer students report difficulty with creating networks, and connecting to campus resources.
Advising and registration?Academic expectations and rigor on your campus.Policies specific to your campus.Who to know on campus.Transfer shock, and how to avoid it.
Other Considerations:
BudgetMarketingCampus collaborationsAssessment plan
Why Online Orientation? Increasing numbers of transfer studentsDiversity of transfer student population and their
experiences Demand for increased access to our services and
resources Shrinking budgets and/or staffingFocus on transitional experience & link to retention
Types of Online Orientation Programs
1. Pre-Orientation: provide information or action steps prior to on-campus/in-person experience
2. Replacement to on-campus experience
Online Orientation programs are utilized at all types of institutions & for many different student populations
University of Minnesota Online Orientation Students have two options for fulfilling orientation
requirement:1. Full-day on-campus orientation OR2. Half-day on-campus orientation with advanced
participation in online orientationAverage participation rate of ~ 70%Program launched in January 2005. Proven successful
though comprehensive evaluation. Streamlined on-campus orientation schedule, while
still meeting the needs of all colleges and departments
Transfer Students as Orientation LeadersDePaul’s Transition Leader Position
o Hire 15 Transition Leaders (TL)o Three-day training in Juneo Payment: $10/hr
Primary Responsibilitieso Facilitate small group sessiono Present “Get Plugged In” breakout sessiono Serve on panel during Parent & Guest Welcomeo Provide campus and neighborhood tourso Promote interaction among new students among all aspects of
program
Importance of Leadership Role/PositionForm of DiversityShare similar experiencesStudents can discuss transfer shock from the student
perspectiveOpportunity to create a transfer communityTraditional-aged transfer student seeking leadership
positions
Transfer Orientation Leader Training Topics Transfer Shock Transfer Student Demographics Commuter Issues Campus Partners/Resources Parent/Guest Relations Importance of Small Talk and Public Speaking Campus Tour Student Panel Preparation Overview of Programs
Why Offer Parent/Family Orientation Programming? Broad base of research suggests that appropriate parent
involvement can augment student success
Parent/Family Orientation Programs Can…o Provide insight on transfer student transitionso Communicate importance of parent/family involvemento Connect parent/family members to involvement opportunitieso Discuss conversation starters for engaging with studentso Communicate strategies for supporting student towards
successo Connect parent/family members to campus resourceso Enhance parent/family affinity and connection to institution
Framing Parent/Family Orientation Programming
Consider Institution Specific Transfer Student Profileo Timing of program (evening, 1-day, 2-day, etc.)o Program components (veteran affairs, family services, etc.)
Educate the campus community on transfer student needso Brown bag lunches, newsletters, workshop
Parent/Family Orientation Program TopicsTransitions
o Social Transitions specific to transferso Academic Transition specific to transfers
Academic Curriculum and Understanding Transfer CreditsCareer ServicesCampus Safety and University Policies/ProceduresConcurrent Sessions
o Money Matters, Academic Resources, Health Services, Parking/Transportation, Housing (on and off-campus)
Specific topics related to your institution's population o Veteran Affairs, family services, first generation resources
Ground Orientation Programs in Assessment/ Evaluation Develop outcome-based programs
o As a result of attending transfer orientation, students will…identify campus resources; articulate university policies and procedures
Establish Timeline and Assessment Cycle Evaluations Focus Groups Orientation Committees CAS Standards NSSE for Transfer Students Institutional Research Communicate results
o campus community and prospective transfers
Extending Beyond Orientation Programs• Mentoring Programs (pre and post matriculation)• Intentional Welcome Week Programming• Inclusion in Convocation Ceremonies• Common Reading Program Transfer Discussion Groups• Transfer Seminars• Transfer Student Organizations/Council/Tau Sigma• Publications/Newsletters• Program Series (Transfer Tuesdays)• Living/Learning Communities• Transfer Specific Outdoor Orientation/Wilderness
Opportunities
NODA Resourceso Conferences
Annual NODAC for 2010 is in St. Louis, MO Nov. 6-9, 2010 9 Regional Conferences
o Networks – Affinity & Special Interest groups Transfer Services, Two-Year College, Small College, Multi-
Ethnic, Canadian, GLBT Issues, Nontraditional Student, etc.o Publications
Orientation Planning Manual, Parent and Commuter Guides, Designing Successful Transitions Monograph, Journal of College Orientation and Transition
o Peer Resources Data Bank, Website
NODA Home Office
University of Minnesota1313 Fifth Street SE
Suite 323AMinneapolis, MN 55414
Toll free: 866-521-NODA or 612-627-0150612-627-0153 (fax)