Transcript Maximizing the Use of Your Transfer Student Organization

Maximizing the Use of Your
Transfer Student Organization
Brian Jicinsky and Kathy Jicinsky
Miami University
Overview
 Miami University specifics
 Formation and structure of Miami University
Transfer Student Organization (MUSTO)
 MUSTO partnership with Office of Admission
 MUSTO partnership with Office of New Student
Programs
 Q&A and discussion
Roles at Miami University
 Kathy
 Assistant Director of New Student Programs
 Advisor of Miami University Transfer Student Organization
(MUSTO)
 Brian
 Interim Assistant Director of Admission
 Transfer Coordinator
 Advisor of Miami University Transfer Student Organization
(MUSTO)
Miami University Specifics
 Located in Oxford, Ohio (resident population: 8,000)
 Public university
 5 Campuses
 Residential university with focus on teaching
undergraduates
 Student population is 16,884
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Undergraduate students: 14,671
Graduate students: 2,213
 Transfer student numbers for the 2009-2010
academic year: 400
Miami University Transfer Student Organization
(MUSTO)
 Student initiated and created
 Goal: To help transfer students transition smoothly
and find community at Miami University.
 Current structure
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2 Co-Presidents
Treasurer
Secretary
Committees
15-20 active members
3 Advisors
MUSTO Benefits the Campus Community
 Built in focus group to inform practice
 Programmatic changes implemented as a result of members’
feedback, suggestions, and ideas
 Cost effective resources
 Peer to peer mentoring
 Passionate about and dedicated to helping others
 Power of the “student voice”
MUSTO’s Partnership with Admission:
Marketing
 Website
 Transfer student Facebook page
 Transfer student viewbook
 Transfer student online chats
 Transfer student acceptance packet
 Shift toward focusing on student stories and
experiences rather than facts and statistics.
MUSTO’s Partnership with Admission:
Transfer Visit Days
 MUSTO members serve as Student Ambassadors:
 Engage in conversation with students and families
 Answer questions of students and families
 Share information about experiences about life as a Miami
student and the transition process
 Connect with incoming transfer students on a personal, peerto-peer level
Partnership with New Student Programs:
Orientation
 Orientation for transfer students
 Not required
 Day-and-a-half long program including information sharing,
advising, and registration
 Occurs the week before classes begin
 Transfer Student Leaders throughout Orientation
 Facilitate conversations about transfer student transitions
 Answer questions about campus life, inside-the-classroom
expectations and experiences, involvement, etc.
 Serve on a student panel
 Attend social events with transfer students
 Coordinate additional activities for transfer students after
Orientation concludes
Partnership with New Student Programs:
EDL 110: The University and the Student
 Optional, 1-credit, credit/no credit, discussion based
course.
 Sections of the course specifically for transfer
students.
 MUSTO Member as Peer Facilitator
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Share experiences
Lead class discussions
Attend outside-of-class events with students
Facilitate in-class activities
Serve as a resource
MUSTO Members’ Experiences
 Build community amongst members
 Jumping off point for student involvement
 Rewarding to work toward improving the transfer
experience for future students
 Active role creating Living Learning Community for
transfer students
MUSTO’s Future Initiatives
 Living Learning Community programming for
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transfer students
Transfer Admission videos
“Buddies program” with new transfer students
Campus-wide programming
Community service outreach
Review of advising process for transfer students
Discussion Questions
 If your institution has a transfer student organization, how do you
utilize this group? What works at your institution?
 If your institution does not have a transfer student organization, would
a group like this be beneficial? In what ways?
 What ideas and/or suggestions do you have about additional ways to
utilize a transfer student organization?
 What challenges exist when working with and utilizing a transfer
student organization?
Thank you!
Contact Information:
Brian Jicinsky
[email protected]
513-529-2536
Kathy Jicinsky
[email protected]
513-529-1834