Brianna AmslerSenior Senator

06 May 2015

Transfer Student First-Year Program

Proposal Intent

This proposal is for Lindenwood University to allow all transfer students to participate in the First-Year Programs. Transfer students should be given the option to participate, in separate activities from freshman, during the First-Year Experience week and be assigned to a peer leader. This will give transfer students the equally smooth transition, which they deserve, into Lindenwood University.

Evidence Of Need Survey Feedback

51.43% of students surveyed transferred in from a two-year institution.

1

Students rated different areas from most difficult to least difficult in the following areas, respectively: transfer of credit and finding campus resources, meeting people, financial aid, learning Lindenwood's policies, paperwork, enrollment, and admissions. 1

62.86% of students surveyed said Lindenwood should provide transfer-specific First-Year Experience activities separate from freshmen. 1

Evidence Of Need

Individual Student Responses. "I transferred in from a community college. I tell anyone who asks me to not transfer here. There are plenty of schools who care about their transfer students. I felt like Lindenwood threw me in the middle of an ocean and said, 'Good Luck!' And I proceeded to drown every single day." 2

Evidence Of Need "It is very hard to meet people, especially coming in the middle of the year.

Everyone knows where to go and what to do and what the rules are. I felt so lost and wasn't sure where to go for each class. I wish there was something set up to help transfer students find their way." 1

"Lindenwood should provide gifts like they do for new students as a welcome. It wasn't nice being basically a new student and not being offered or invited to anything." 1

"The most difficult part of transferring was not knowing the little things, like details of the meal plan or where you can park. I got two parking tickets and skipped a few meals or used my credit card in Butler before people explained things to me. Reading a manual is only so helpful. Sometimes conversation with an advisor needs to include campus info too." 1

"My main concern is that FYE week wasn't opened to transfer students." 1

"Transfer students don't learn how Lindenwood works, in reference to registering for classes, resources, etc." 1

"Lindenwood is very clique-y, and not just within the student population; I found it hard to get 'in' with the faculty and staff." 1

Evidence Of Need Faculty Responses.

Alexis Wood, Transfer Student Admissions Advisor.▪ According to Alexis Wood, enrollment happens several weeks before classes

start. During this orientation process, transfers register for classes, get their housing assignment, get their work and learn assignment, finalize financial aid, and get a brief campus tour. This process is very short, lasting only a couple hours. This process does not expose students to social opportunities. It merely rushes through very basic campus resources. Transfer students often feel like they are jumping in half way. They do not want to feel like freshmen; however, they do not want to feel like second-class citizens either. In addition, a lot of community college transfers are not used to getting involved, and they need extra support. Lindenwood is far behind other universities in caring for transfers. There should be an improved transfer orientation, such as a First-Year Experience weekend, but it should be more flexible than the freshmen orientation. Not all transfers should be required to attend this. For example, a married twenty-five year old senior would most likely not want to participate. Wood said she would support an orientation such as this. 3

Evidence of Need

Dr. Shane Williamson, Dean of First-Year Programs.▪ According to Dr. Williamson, the current

transfer student system needs improvement. 4

Evidence of Need Dr. Christie Rodgers, Dean of Students and

Academic Support Services.▪ In the past, all new students, both freshmen and

transfers, were included in a welcoming program. However, as the university grew, transfer students were put on the back burner. 5

▪ Presently, Student Support Services has been calling transfers to help them out as they get started. They were shocked to find out how lost most of the transfers were. 5

▪ c. Some possibilities to work towards are:▪ i. A welcome back sophomore student program, which would

include transfer students. 5▪ ii. Allow transfers to move in on Friday. 5▪ iii. Assign transfers to peer leaders. 5

Supporting Research The First-Year Programs should include

transfers. Many transfers come straight from community

colleges.▪ Universities present an entirely different world.▪ Community college graduates are often not much

different from high school graduates.▪ With 11 million students, community colleges are home

to 45 percent of the collegiate population in the United States." 6

▪ Community college transfers are more likely to feel lost, as they are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college. 6

Supporting Research Transfer students can be just as terrified and feel

just as unsure as new freshman, regardless of whether they are sophomores, juniors, or seniors.▪ Many transfers experience something called "transfer

shock." 7▪ Difficulty in adjusting to university life leads to a decreasing

GPA. 7▪ Many develop low self-esteem.▪ They are expected to know everything about college, but they

don't. 8

▪ They tend to feel neglected by faculty. 8

▪ They feel deceived by recruiters. 8

▪ They have a harder time making friends. 8

Supporting Research

Including transfers in the First-Year Programs would not be an excessive burden.▪ Current Enrollment:▪ Of 917 freshmen, 43 are transfers. 9

▪ Of 1,067 sophomores, 140 are transfers. 9

▪ Of 1,092 juniors, 180 are transfers. 9

▪ Of 1,878 seniors, 69 are transfers. 9

▪ The total number of transfers who would be included in the First-Year Programs is approximately 400.

Supporting Research Current First-Year Program policies.

Office of First-Year Programs▪ “The Office of First-Year Programs is committed to

providing first-year students with the support and resources needed to have a successful transition to Lindenwood University. First-year students are all traditional undergraduate students who are attending college for the first-time and transfer students with less than 24 transferable credits who have not successfully completed a Freshman Seminar course at their previous institution.” 10

▪ Freshman receive access to academic, personal, and social support through the First-Year Program, but most transfers are denied this benefit. 10

Supporting Research First-Year Experience week.▪ “All first-year students...are required to attend the First-Year

Experience. During this program students participate in a variety of informative and exciting activities; they gather information about life on a college campus, learn about institutional policies and procedures, and explore academic opportunities. This exciting and fun program will allow students to interact with other new students, meet faculty and staff, and ask questions about academic and student services...all international students are required to attend this program in its entirety.” 11

▪ This week is open to both commuter and resident:▪ First-year freshmen. 11

▪ Eligible transfer freshmen. 11

▪ International freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. 11

▪ This week is open to neither commuter nor resident:▪ Select transfer freshmen. 11

▪ Transfer sophomores, juniors, and seniors. 11

Supporting Research

Schools which combine and/or have separate first-year programs for freshmen and transfer students: Saint Louis University. 12

Washington University. 13

Webster University. 14

Fontbonne University. 15

UMSL. 16

Suggested Approach Allow transfers to participate in First-Year Experience week

activities designed for them. Schedule events between Friday and Sunday. Allow them to move in on the Friday before classes start. Include a transfer student mixer. Include a ceremony to go over policies and resources. Include an organization fair to introduce academic and social

opportunities. Give transfer students the option of being assigned to a peer

leader. The costs associated with this program would include:

Early room and board. Activities, supplies, etc. Marketing (mailing the program information to transfer students upon

their acceptance into Lindenwood). At this point in time, we cannot give a clear cost estimate.

However, the costs would not be unreasonable for the University. 5

Benefits Transfers will receive equal support and

opportunities as new freshmen and internationals. When students feel welcome and secure from the

start, they are more likely to feel like they matter, be active in campus events, be involved in clubs and organizations, be excited about their education, and recommend Lindenwood to their peers, ultimately giving back to the university in the future. Results will include: A better image and reputation for Lindenwood. Improved social culture among students. Improved academic performance among transfers.

Summary

As noted through research and the voice of Lindenwood transfer students and faculty, a problem exists upon the welcoming of transfers. By offering them a weekend to feel at home and prepare themselves and by assigning peer leaders, Lindenwood can increase the chance of social and academic success of transfers. A stronger foundation is desperately needed by transfers, as it will affect every proceeding step of their journeys at Lindenwood.

Sincerely,

Brianna Amsler, Senator

Lindenwood Student Government Association

Works Cited1. "LSGA & CAB November 2014 Survey." Lindenwood University. 08 Dec. 2014.2. Anonymous. Personal Interview. 04 Feb. 2015.3. Wood, Alexis. Personal Interview. 29 Oct. 2014.4. Dr. Williamson, Shane. Personal Interview. 30 Jan. 2015.5. Dr. Rodgers, Christie. Personal Interview. 12 Feb. 2015.6. Kingkade, Tyler. "Community College Students Often Fail to Achieve Bachelors

Degree: Study." The Huffington Post. 05 Jun. 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.7. Thurmond, Karen. "Dealing With Transfer Shock." Clearinghouse Academic Advising

Resources. 2007. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.8. Dostis, Melanie. "Transition can be Tough for College Transfer Students." The

Boston Globe. 26 Dec. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2014.9. Weinrich, Jeffrey. "Student Enrollment Information." Message to the Senate. 26

Sep. 2014. E-mail.10. "First-Year Programs." Lindenwood.edu. Web. 25 Aug. 2014.11. "First-Year Programs - First-Year Experience - Fall 2014." Lindenwood.edu. Web. 25

Aug. 2014.12. "Transfer Student Experience." SLU.edu. Web. 25 Aug. 2014.13. "Discover St. Louis." OISS.wustl.edu. Web. 25 Aug. 2014.14. "New Student Orientation." Webster.edu. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.15. "Transfer Student Orientation." Fontbonne.edu. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.16. "New Student Experience Overview." UMSL.edu. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

Thank You!

Questions?