Transfer students highlighted Oct. 21-25

National Transfer Student Week will be celebrated at the University of North Georgia (UNG) through multiple events hosted by the Student Orientation and Success (SOS) department from Oct. 21-25.  The concept of honoring transfer students and those who support their academic journey was developed by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) in 2017.

"We want to support our transfer students and highlight their experience coming in because they're not traditional new students in that they have some college credit behind them. They know how to 'college,' but they're coming to a new institution, so it may seem like a fresh start," Allison Naidoo, student orientation and success coordinator for Transfer and Return to UNG Programs, said. "Transferring means a new campus, a new region, new faculty and staff. It's not the same as they've experienced before."

"Unlocking Potential: Keys to the Transfer Journey," the theme for this year's National Transfer Student Week, celebrates the wealth of skills, knowledge and perspectives that transfer students bring to their new schools. It recognizes how transfer students possess unique problem-solving skills and adaptability, diverse lived experiences, and connections to community.

One of the resources UNG provides is an academic success coach, something Naidoo described as a "personal assistant when it comes to trying to figure out your life." These individuals help students determine goals and how to achieve them. They look at what hasn't been working for the student and what is, she said.

"They're a level up from a friend. They will help organize what a student needs to do, as well as just aligning ultimate goals," Naidoo said.

Often students can’t finish degrees where they’re currently enrolled, Naidoo said.

SOS provides a dedicated space for adult learner and transfer students on the Gainesville and Dahlonega campuses for studying and printing materials, customized orientation, and programming and events throughout the year to help with the transfer experience and serve as a liaison for transfers and other UNG departments.

Other factors in transferring include UNG’s economical tuition and degree offerings at most campuses.

"I transferred to UNG because I was looking for a new place to continue my education. I transferred from Georgia State, looking for more connections and greater opportunities," Lily Donley, a senior from Johns Creek, Georgia, said. "UNG has been that place for me and has taken me down so many new paths that I’m immensely grateful for."

Donley is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and is a transfer coach, a point of contact for applicants who can assist students with general questions.

"Transfer students often comprise a significant portion of our student bodies, yet they frequently navigate invisible barriers in their educational journeys. National Transfer Student Week serves multiple crucial purposes: it showcases the diverse experiences and valuable perspectives transfer students bring to our campus communities; it helps transfer students feel seen and connects them with essential resources; and it brings transfer challenges to the forefront, sparking important campus conversations about how we can enhance our programs and policies to better support this vital student population," Emily Kittrell, assistant director of NISTS, said.  "By shining a light on transfer students and their stories, we not only celebrate the many valid pathways to reaching educational goals but also reinforce our commitment to creating more inclusive and effective educational environments for all."

Naidoo said that business and nursing degrees are the most sought-after degrees for transfer students.

National Transfer Student Week events will be held throughout the week and include:

• Coffee with an Academic Success Coach — Oct. 21, Student Center Common Area, Gainesville Campus, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• UNG Nursing program information session — Oct. 22, Student Health Services 296, Gainesville Campus, noon to 2 p.m.
• Transfer Tabling — Oct. 22, Lobby, Cumming Campus, 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
• Coffee with an Academic Success Coach — Oct. 23, 2nd floor of Hoag Student Center, Dahlonega Campus, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Doggies with SOS — Oct. 23, Robinson Ballroom, Student Center, Gainesville Campus, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Luncheon — Oct. 24, Hoag ABC Rooms, Dahlonega Campus, noon to 1 p.m.
• Luncheon — Oct. 25, Cleveland Ballroom 3110, Martha T. Nesbitt Academic Building, Gainesville Campus, noon to 1 p.m.

NISTS, founded in 2002 by former UNG President Bonita Jacobs, is based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Under her direction, NISTS became a forerunner in the discussion on transfer student success Kittrell said.