Transfer Student Success Workshop coming to UNG
Article By: Agnes Hina
The annual Transfer Student Success Workshop sponsored by Georgia Transfer Articulation Cooperative Services (GATRACS) will take place April 26-27 on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville Campus.
GATRACS is a partnership between the University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia, Georgia Department of Education, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
The event is an in-person opportunity for professional development for transfer credit professionals from technical colleges, independent colleges, and universities. Session topics covered at the conference will include transfer credits, dual enrollment, exam to college course credit, and military or adult learning credit.
The workshop begins at 9 a.m. on April 26 with the welcome address presented by UNG President Bonita Jacobs, who is the founder of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students. In addition to Jacobs, two departments will be representing UNG as presenters: Nighthawk Engagement & Student Transitions (NEST) and The Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Other higher education institutions from across the state will also have presentations.
NEST will provide a breakout session presentation on its transfer coach program, which is centered on providing peer-led support for incoming transfer students as they prepare, navigate, and connect to the university. The program was established in spring 2020 with eight transfer coaches. Now, the program has 10 transfer coaches and a transfer lead.
The breakout session presentation will also discuss the program model, how transfer coaches interact and connect with transfer students, barriers and challenges that are faced each year, changes being implemented for fall 2022, and how the program helped shape the transfer coaches' experience.
As a seasoned admissions professional who has worked with transfer students for several years, I think having conversations about how we can better serve our transfer students is needed now more than ever.
Christopher Bryan
UNG associate director of Graduate Admissions
Transfer professionals will hear about transfer students and their stories throughout the presentation. In addition, the presenters will share transfer coaches' experiences working with transfer students at UNG.
"Being a transfer student, I know there are students that appreciate everything we do for them. I like knowing that we are helping these students be set up for success," Bryan Ramirez, a UNG graduate and former transfer coach from 2020 through 2022, said.
Undergraduate Admissions will also have a breakout session during the workshop on recruiting transfer students.
The workshop was first held in April 2017 at Middle Georgia State University, meeting six times since its inception, including online versions in 2020 and 2021.
"I'm excited that this workshop will be on UNG's Gainesville Campus," Christopher Bryan, associate director of Graduate Admissions, said. "As a seasoned admissions professional who has worked with transfer students for several years, I think having conversations about how we can better serve our transfer students is needed now more than ever. With more and more students seeking transfer, institutions must step back and look at their tactics and policies on how we can better recruit, enroll, and retain transfer students."
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