NIU’s Office of Orientation and First Year Programs and Office of Community College Initiatives are teaming up to celebrate National Transfer Student Week Oct. 21-25.
NIU is a transfer-friendly institution, with 40% of undergraduate enrollment comprised of transfer students and 68% of transfer students having earned 60 credits from other institutions.
As part of our Strategic Enrollment Management Plan (SEM) 2.0 goals to improve access and affordability, we work to enhance transfer student success at NIU by:
- Maximizing the number of credits applied toward degree requirements
- Striving to make enrolling as seamless as possible for prospective transfer students
- Providing a robust support network for transfer students
- Offering comprehensive programming to ensure transfer students’ seamless transition
- Offering scholarship opportunities specifically for transfer students
- Providing place-based academic degree completion programs to serve location-bound working adults.
Following admission, orientation and Week of Welcome, our Office of Orientation and First Year Programs continues students’ onboarding by encouraging attendance in activities, programs and workshops to help ensure our transfer students are seen, supported and celebrated. These programs promote transfer student academic success and integration into the NIU community.
“Our department is committed to providing programming that meets the needs of our students. Through regular assessment and evaluation of our programs, we work to ensure we’re effectively using our resources and maximizing student time as they get acclimated to campus,” Jenna Pracht, director of Orientation and First Year Programs said. “We strategically recruit our summer orientation teams to include transfer students to help make sure their story is told.
Pracht adds, “We hear from incoming transfer students that they want to build community. It’s important for us to showcase different experiences through our leadership positions to help students see themselves as part of the Huskie community.”
Our Office of Community College Initiatives is leading the expansion of place-based degree completion programs, including a new partnership with the University Center at McHenry County College, while working to identify opportunities to address workforce demands and strengthening partnerships with school districts to build pathways from high school to community college.
“National Transfer Student Week celebrates the critical partnerships between NIU and community colleges, emphasizing the importance of creating efficient transfer systems and fostering meaningful personal connections,” Rodrigo López, executive director of Community College Initiatives said. “These collaborations ensure students have the support to navigate their academic paths and reach their full potential. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our transfer students.”
Check out the full story in NIU Today.
