Sophomore Mia Cline transferred to UNG from Georgia State University. She encourages fellow transfer students to get involved so they will feel at home on campus.
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (UNG) will take National Transfer Student Week, set for Oct. 18-22, as an opportunity to celebrate transfer students and highlight the resources available to them.
A free lunch on Tuesday, Oct. 19 on the Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee campuses is one of the highlights of the week. A full schedule is available on UNG's National Transfer Student Week webpage.
Each year, about 20% of UNG's new students are transfers, and UNG welcomes them with the same intentionality it assists freshmen.
"Transfer students are an integral part of the UNG community," Dr. James Conneely, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said. "We are committed to making sure we meet their needs."
A new resource to aid these students is the transfer equivalency tool that helps students understand how their credits will transfer to minimize the amount of credits lost. UNG also has nine transfer coaches, fellow students who help them navigate the information needed to succeed, and a transfer-specific orientation.
The prevalence of transfer students at UNG mirrors national trends as 2.1 million undergraduate students transferred between July 2020 and June 2021, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Student mobility is reality, and we must create intentional policies and practices that place students at the center of their educational journeys.
Dr. Janet Marling
Executive director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students
"The transfer students help to enhance the classrooms and majors at UNG because they bring unique experience," Dr. Darcy Hayes, director of Nighthawk Engagement and Student Transitions (NEST), said.
Dr. Janet Marling, executive director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus and founded in 2002 by UNG President Bonita Jacobs, said a collaborative approach that includes faculty and student affairs professionals is required.
"Student mobility is reality, and we must create intentional policies and practices that place students at the center of their educational journeys," Marling, also an associate professor in UNG's College of Education, said.
Kim Anderson, a senior from Port Arthur, Texas, pursuing a degree in psychology, transferred to UNG from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. As a transfer coach, she thrives on helping others with similar paths.
"They enjoy having someone who can answer their questions and relate to them," Anderson said. "They feel reassured, and it relieves their stress."
Mia Cline, a sophomore from Johns Creek, Georgia, pursuing a degree in elementary and special education, came to UNG from Georgia State University. Joining a sorority has eased her transition, and she has advice for other transfers.
"Get connected and get involved. Put yourself out there," Cline said. "Don't be afraid to get outside your comfort zone."
UNG established a scholarship for newly enrolled transfer students in fall 2021. These students were selected based on their exemplary academics and co-curricular involvement. Students who earned the scholarship were: Taralee Arrowood, Nahid Beg, Kelli Burke, Alma Figueroa, Kristopher Fuller, Audrey Gilbert, Turner Griffith-Driver, Hannah Holley, Rafael Navar, and Robert New.
Navar, a sophomore from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in criminal justice, is a former Kennesaw State University student. He enjoyed UNG's Weeks of Welcome events and is grateful for the financial support.
"The scholarship is a great help," Navar said. "It helps me focus on the academic aspect because college can be expensive."
