Developing a transfer-friendly culture
On Tuesday, March 18, CollegeSource hosted another session of Let’s Talk Transfer, our community discussion series that invites all transfer professionals (regardless of whether they use CollegeSource products) to share their expertise and ask questions on transfer-related topics.
Breakout on transfer event ideas at the March 18, 2025, session of Let’s Talk Transfer.
Topics of discussion
This month’s discussion centered around developing a transfer-friendly culture. Our hosts were particularly excited about this topic due to its student-centered focus. We were joined by guest speakers from two universities who discussed how they have been increasing student support by opening transfer centers.
University of New Mexico’s Transfer & Transition Student Center
For our first presentation, we were joined by Stephanie Hands and Sarah E. Domínguez from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Stephanie is the institution’s Director of Advising Strategies, while Sarah is the Transfer Pathways Officer and Dual Credit Program Supervisor. Opened in 2024 during National Transfer Student Week, the Transfer & Transition Student Center serves transfer students (including branch transition students) by offering them a welcoming, dedicated space on campus. It offers them a wide range of services such as advising, office hours, and topic-based workshops. Students are encouraged to drop by the student lounge, fuel their day with coffee and snacks, and use the student center as a centralized hub for connecting with transfer-focused resources.
Slide featuring guest speakers, Stephanie Hands and Sarah E. Domínguez of the University of New Mexico.
Sarah shared her insight on what institutions should consider when planning to open a transfer center. She noted the importance of thinking about scope and resources and clearly determining:
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- Why a center is needed.
- Who within the umbrella of transfer students the center will serve.
- What function the center will serve.
- Where it will live.
- What the center is attempting to influence and how its impact will be measured.
She discussed the need to be flexible and open to ideas that partners may have for the transfer center. Institution stakeholders will need to work with each other to determine the relationship between the center and other support services and how referrals are conducted.
Sarah emphasized leaning on student voices and national data/trends to shape the center and the need to continually assess the center’s impact. She noted that institutions should take adequate time to ensure the physical space is given a clear, inclusive name and that it’s welcoming and comfortable for students. Unexpected expenses may occur, and institutions should do their best to plan for these.
University of South Florida’s Transfer Center
Our second presentation was given by Jonathan Lee, Director of the Office of Transfer Student Success at the University of South Florida, which has campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Jonathan detailed his experience joining the recently formed Office of Transfer Student Success in 2020 and working with his expanding team and new leadership to develop ways to better serve transfer students. His office took the task of documenting the services they provide and explained how additional resources and a dedicated physical space could expand support.
Slide featuring guest speaker Jonathan Lee of the University of South Florida.
In 2021, Florida began measuring graduation rates for transfer students with an associate’s degree from a state college. Jonathan and his team took this opportunity to once again share with leadership how a transfer center could improve student success and performance. His office was given the green light to grow their team, and eventually, a physical space became available for the center. Jonathan detailed the efforts to renovate the space and make it a welcoming environment for transfer students. The center opened in September 2024 but is being advertised slowly to students due to the need for additional renovations and storm impact on the campus. Students are welcome to drop by the center and use its dedicated lounge space, private and group study rooms, and video room to conduct interviews for jobs and internships.
Breakout rooms
After the presentations, attendees headed into breakout rooms. CollegeSource staff hosted continued discussions with the University of New Mexico and the University of South Florida, respectively, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and further learn about the institutions’ experiences developing transfer centers. A third breakout session on transfer event ideas was hosted by a representative of the Client Advisory Board.
The hosts of the series stayed in the main room and spoke with attendees about the role of the Registrar’s office in conversations about forming transfer centers, the structure of transfer student advisement, and highlights and takeaways from the day’s presentations.
Watch the recording
Register now to access the March 18 recording, including the transcript, chat log, and breakout session recordings.
Upon accessing the recording, please see the sidebar transcript for the link to view breakouts.
Join us again in May
The next session of Let’s Talk Transfer will take place on May 20 and will focus on data best practices for transfer articulation.
If you previously registered for the series, the Zoom link provided can be used to access all future sessions, and you will receive email reminders about the individual sessions. If you haven’t yet registered, see the link below. Recordings will be available for those unable to attend.
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