Home at Last: Creating a Transfer Community Starts with Ambassadors Introduction (Emilee) Overview of school Midsized, public institution located in Oxford, OH, which is a rural college town. Total Enrollment: 19,076 16,900 undergraduates About 300-500 transfer students each year Demographics for enrolled students for fall 2016 Last school attended: 31% (2-year) / 62% (4-year) / 7% other 55% male / 45% female 56% on-campus / 44% off-campus 58% Ohio / 42% Out of State Average number of credit hours: 38.4 Average Age 20.8 Home at Last: Creating a Transfer Community Starts with Ambassadors Sarah Unger Emilee Suchomski Miami University

History Established in 2014 Why? Lack of transfer tour guides Need for connection for prospective students No community between transfer students Growth in membership History (Sarah) Founded in fall 2014 Why it was founded Lack of transfer tour guides Need for connection for prospective students No community amongst transfers Changes over the years Growth in membership Started with 5 students Today we have a listserv that includes 50 students (about 20-25 active members) Members from both Ohio and OOS What has worked and what hasn’t Has not worked Executive Board Attendance policy What has worked Connecting members with prospective students Utilizing students for visits

Recruitment Mega Fair Transfer Social The Hub Personal connections Recruitment of Student Ambassadors (Emilee) Transfer Student Social Mega Fair The Hub Personal Connections

Training Volunteer organization Training Retreat Handbook Roles & Purpose Communication & Ways to Spark a Conversation Awkward Questions Bucket Training (Sarah) Volunteer Program Retreat Handbook Roles & purpose Communication & ways to spark a conversation Awkward Questions bucket

Roles Transfer Preview Days Student Panels Postcards Communication Being a friendly face when transfer students visit campus Serving as a contact for them when it comes to the transfer process as a current student MUTA Executive Board President Secretary Director of Recruitment Treasurer Special Events Coordinator Transfer Preview Days (check-in & lunch) Student Panels & CSCC Destination Day Postcards

Creating a community Meetings Social Events Hockey game Thanksgiving Dinner Ugly Sweater Postcard Writing Food / Giveaways Creating a community (Sarah) Open to all students, both transfer & non-transfer Postcard writing Meetings Hockey game Thanksgiving dinner Holiday party Transfer Student Social Food / Giveaways T-shirts designed by students

Where do we see the organization going? Expanding the organization More of an online presence Mentorship Advanced opportunity to become a tour guide Student Leadership Future (Sarah & Emilee) Expanding the organization More of an online presence Mentorship Advanced training Opportunity to become a tour guide Student Leadership (Executive Board) Students connect back with community colleges Attend PTK meetings Cookie drops

Discussion Discussion Thoughts? Do you currently have a program like this in place? Discussion

Contact Us Questions? Sarah Unger Sarah.Unger@MiamiOH.edu 513.529.8507 Emilee Suchomski Emilee.Suchomski@MiamiOH.edu 513.529.2534 Contact Us Questions?