Transcript Slide 1

Enhancing Student Leadership:
Transfer Council’s Innovative Programming
Model for Transfer Student Success
Presented by:
Scott Fogleman
Haley Hamam
Meet the Presenters
• Scott Fogleman
–Director of Transfer Council
–Senior, B.S. Marketing
• Haley Hamam
–Associate Director of Transfer Council
–Junior, B.A. Political Science
Today’s Program
Clemson University
Background
Numbers
Transfer Population
Undergraduate Student Government
– An Overview and Our Role
• Transfer Council
– Our Structure: Then and Now
– Supporting Academics
– Accomplishments
• Implementation on Your Campus
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• Questions and Comments
Clemson University:
A Brief History
• Land-grant institution founded in 1889 through the will
of Thomas Green Clemson
• Clemson offers over 300 organizations for students
• Our core values are:
– honestly
– integrity
– respect
• Clemson believes in academic excellence and providing
student’s with a social atmosphere conducive to higher
learning
Clemson: Our Town
• Clemson University is located in the upstate of
South Carolina at the base of the Blue Ridge
Mountains and along the shores of Lake Hartwell
• Clemson is set in a small college town that attracts
students looking for a strong sense of community,
school spirit and a love of winning – in academics,
in athletics, and in life
Clemson by the Numbers
•Freshman-Sophomore Retention Rate: 90.5%
•Transfer Student Retention Rate: 85.8%
•Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:1
•Number of transfer students enrolled in Fall 2009: 970
•Top Ranking in “Clemson Town-Gown Relations” by 2010 Princeton Review
•1st rated Best Value in Public Universities in South Carolina by Kiplinger’s
magazine in 2009
•2nd ranking “our happiest students” by 2010 Princeton Review
•3rd ranking our career services by 2010 Princeton Review
•Ranked 22nd by US News and World Report
•Ranked 27th by Business Week
Our Transfer Population
• Transfer students represent approximately 30% of
new students each academic year
• Bridge to Clemson Program
• In-state and Out-of-state four-year institutions
• Technical colleges
Clemson University
Student Government
CUSG
Executive
Branch
Legislative
Branch
Judicial Branch
Attorney
General
Student Body
President
President’s
Cabinet
Senate
Freshman
Council
Transfer
Council
Council on
Diversity
Affairs
Why Create a Transfer
Council?
• To provide new transfer students an outlet
through student government to voice concerns
and opinions
• Need for a specialized Council with transfer
experience to relate to new students
• To provide specific programming to support the
academic needs unique to transfer students
CUSG Transfer Council
The development and first year
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Presented a proposal to Senate to create a Transfer Council that was modeled
after the successful Freshman Council.
The Need for This Council
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The Mission of This Council
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No student government representation for transfer students
Transfer SHOCK (example: GPA decline first semester of college)
Previous new student programs catered to freshmen, ignoring the unique needs of transfer
students
Streamline credit evaluation process
Provide monthly newsletters to students
Supplement Orientation Ambassadors with council members
Develop and implement new transfer student activities
Short and long term goals for the Council
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Implement an effective mentoring program
Have a positive effect on retention rates
To facilitate a better social environment
To inspire and influence other universities to give transfer students the representative voice
they need and deserve
CUSG Transfer Council
Previous Structure
• 30 members, each
assigned a position
• Subcommittees targeted a
specific area:
– Academic Affairs, First Week,
Orientation, Communication,
Activities, and Mentoring
• Subcommittees limited
member’s abilities and
strengths
Improved Structure
• Size reduced to 25
members
• Subcommittees revamped
to be cross-functional
• Strict attendance policy
• Members given increased
responsibilities
• Progress has been faster
and members are happier
Accomplishments
Voice for transfers on Clemson’s campus
Two new credit evaluators hired
Held numerous events, both social and academic
Created Transfers to Tigers Mentoring Program
Mission: Transition, part of extended orientation
Increased roles and responsibilities at transfer
orientations
• Collaborated successfully with University Housing to
relocate “Tiger Den” to core campus
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Mission: Transition
• Mission: Transition--January 2010
• Unique program that connects new students with key
resources and services at Clemson
• Only academic program that is student-led
– Council members are the program facilitators
• Creates more interaction between students
• Transfers to Tigers is introduced to students
Transfers to Tigers
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Developed over the past three years
First active year: Fall 2009
Approximately 350 Fall 2009 mentees
Approximately 140 Spring 2010 mentees
Relaxed, unique approach
“See what you’re missin’ from your Clemson
transition!”
Tiger Den and “TDAB”
• Transfer Council and University Housing working
relationship
• On-campus transfer community
• Additional opportunity for student leadership
• Direct source for student input to University
Housing
Campus Impact
• Volunteered for Admission’s Phone-A-Thon
• Only student organization supporting
ePortfolio requirement
• Welcome Leaders, Orientation
Ambassadors, and “small-group” leaders
• Supports other student organization events
• Philanthropy involvement
Our Future Goals
• Continue building relationships with faculty,
staff, and administration
• Play a larger role in transfer student
orientation
• Continue promotion of our programs on a
national level
• Explore and create additional opportunities
for transfer student involvement on our
campus
Our Challenge To You
• Bring this idea back to students on your campus
• Encourage your transfer students to become more
involved on campus, more proactive with the
decisions that directly effect them
• Empower transfer students to feel that they are
part of your University’s family from their first day
on campus
• Need help getting started? E-mail us!!
Questions and
Comments