NISTS Transfer Student Ambassadors Demonstrate the Need for Higher Education Beyond Complimentary College Tuition
Katie Ibsen, a senior studying Anthropology at UC-Berkeley, believes that an institutional approach to content creation can sometimes hinder the organic relationship between content creators and their audience. However, when it comes to higher education, particularly for transfer students, institutions are being encouraged to adopt a more collaborative and supportive approach.
According to the book Beyond Free College: Making Higher Education Work for 21st Century Students, universities can better support transfer students by focusing not merely on increasing access, but also on improving completion rates. Key strategies include building strong partnerships between sending and receiving institutions, personalized academic advising, system-wide coordination, streamlined credit transfer processes, and the utilization of digital tools.
One example of successful partnership is the collaboration between Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College and Western Kentucky University. This partnership resulted in a 57-point increase in transfer enrollment. Universities are also implementing proactive advising, like the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), which clarifies transfer pathways and credit applicability even before enrollment.
System-wide coordination, or "systemness," is another crucial strategy. This ensures that students receive consistent messaging and support throughout their educational journey. Clear articulation rules for credit transfer evaluations improve predictability and student confidence in their path to degree.
Jan Paolo Canteras, a transfer student at UC Irvine, faced financial challenges due to the higher tuition costs associated with transferring from a community college to a four-year school. The cost per credit hour can double or even triple, which can be a significant burden for many students. Paolo also expressed concern for students facing food insecurity and a need for more mental health support on campus.
Herman Chavez, a BA double major in Comparative Literature and Ethnomusicology at UCLA, found a supportive network of faculty and staff, particularly Dr. Whitney Arnold and Cesar D. Favila, which significantly improved his experience. Chavez, a member of the UCLA class of 2022, also faced challenges during his transfer journey, including navigating the UC system and a pandemic. Despite these challenges, he considers it the best decision he ever made.
Noelle, a transfer student at The University of Notre Dame, felt excluded during her transition, as the university prioritized first-year students over transfer students. However, she, along with Herman Chavez, Katie Ibsen, and Jan Paolo Canteras, were named as NISTS 2022 Transfer Student Ambassadors. Noelle is currently working on her BA in Classics and Philosophy, Science, & Mathematics at Notre Dame.
Katie Ibsen, apart from her academic pursuits, helps other transfer students navigate the process and shares tips and tricks on her YouTube vlog, The Vintage Academic. Paolo, on the other hand, found a passion for the fields of psychology and sociology during his time in the United States and even helped create a Student Transfer Engagement Access and Mentorship (STEAM) course at UC Irvine.
Noelle's wish for transfer programs in the United States is a greater emphasis on fully integrating students as part of the campus community. This approach would make the transition smoother and more welcoming for transfer students, ensuring they feel valued and supported throughout their educational journey.
Education and self-development are intertwined for Katie Ibsen, who uses her YouTube vlog, The Vintage Academic, to share learning and personal growth experiences with other transfer students. Universities, seeking to improve completion rates, are employing strategies such as system-wide coordination and personalized academic advising to support transfer students.
