Fostering Successful Transitions through Transfer Student Orientation

January 27, 2010NISTS Annual Conference

Addison, Texas

Mike KnoxUniversity of Texas at Arlingtonmjknox@uta.edu

Shandol HooverUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hillschoover@email.unc.edu

Katie GranholmUniversity of Minnesota Twin Cities granhol013@umn.edu

Chelsea RuffDePaul Universitycruff@depaul.edu

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)

noda@umn.eduwww.nodaweb.org