Maximizing the Use of Your Transfer Student Organization
Download
Report
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
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
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
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
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