Creating Involvement and Leadership Opportunities for Transfer Students. Monica Van Cleve Jeremy Tolbert Sabra Harrison Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina

TODAY’S PROGRAM Introduction: Transfer Council Executive Leadership –Monica Van Cleve, Spotsylvania, Virginia –Jeremy Tolbert, Greenville, South Carolina –Sabra Harrison, Tolland, Connecticut Clemson University Overview –Statistics –Rankings –Student Life Atmosphere Transfer Council: How It Started –Initial Process Process Logistics –The logistics of forming a Transfer Council Current and Future Goals and Objectives Question and Answer Session

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY Atmosphere and Lifestyle: –Clemson University is a southern university with solid academics, competitive athletics, a great location, and fun social atmosphere. Clemson students and alumni are very proud of their school, and this is very evident around campus. –There are many things to get involved with on campus as there are more than 250 clubs and organizations. However, Transfer Students often have a hard time adjusting to “The Clemson Bubble.” –The “Clemson Bubble” can be sometimes hard for transfer students to break into as many students already have their broad set of friends. –Transfer Students sometimes feel overwhelmed with the increased expectations, the ability to make new friends, and get involved on campus.

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY 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 with a beautiful backdrop of lakefronts and mountains, Clemson attracts students looking for a strong sense of community, school spirit and a love of winning – in academics, in athletics and in life. –Informational Statistics for the year 2006: 89% Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate 3.99 Average High School GPA 47% Graduated in Top 10% of High School Class 14:1 Student to Faculty Ratio 31% of undergraduate students are out of state students Approximately 1,000 Transfer Students are admitted each year Transfer Students must have completed 30 hours of work with a MINIMUM 2.5 GPA. *Information obtained from the Clemson University Fact Book

TIGER PRIDE A Few Rankings: –#27 –#27 of National Public Universities –US News and World Report –#19 –#19 The Best Undergraduate Business Schools –BusinessWeek magazine –#4 –#4 Best Career/Job Placement Services –Princeton Review –#3 –#3 Happiest Students –Princeton Review –#11 –#11 Best Quality of Life –Princeton Review –#1 –#1 Jock School –Princeton Review –#6 –#6 Town-Gown Relations are Great –Princeton Review

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT Clemson University Student Government (CUSG) is a very solid and influential organization on campus that holds a lot of credibility and is very highly respected by administration and students alike. There are over 300 people involved in CUSG representing Freshmen, Minority Students, Graduate Students, etc. One crucial group of students was missing. Clemson didn’t have anything to meet the unique needs of transfer students. Here are some of our stories…

GETTING STARTED Formed a proposal for Student Government’s Senate President of a council that I had patterned off the Freshman Council. Why we needed the council: –Under representation on campus –Academic Student SHOCK (example: GPA decline first semester of college) –Most transfer programs were designed for freshmen which causes a lot of problems What the council would do on a year to year basis: –Revise and eventually create admission publications being sent out before arrival on campus –Monthly newsletters –Replace Orientation Ambassadors –Create and run new transfer student activities Short and long term goals for the council Concerns of the Senate President -Adequate Transfer Student Interest?

STEPS TO FORMATION T I M E L I N E November 2006 Proposal to Student Senate President December Talk to Student Government Members Steering Committee Student Senate Spring 2006 Get Feedback from Student Government Members Fall 2007 Wrote Legislation document for us to present to CUSG Spring 2007 Presented to Student Senate Spring 2007 Legislation was passed with overwhelming support Spring 2007 Made an official Constitution Fall 2007 Formed Structure and procedures Summer and Fall 07 PR was through the Student Government Open House and through e mails to all transfer students. Summer 2007 Made application and set deadline. Fall 2007 Interview candidates and accepted or declined. 51 Applications. 27 Accepted. Fall 2007 Council FORMED.

Transfer council consists of 30 members The Council meets once a week, every week. The council is divided into subcommittees Academic AffairsActivities First Week Mentors OrientationCommunications The Subcommittees are responsible for holding their own separate meetings in addition to the weekly Council meeting. TRANSFER COUNCIL NOW

EARLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Some of the things we have accomplished thus far include giving new transfers an outlet to get involved, make friends, make connections throughout the campus and help other transfers.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE Academic Affairs Worked with E-Portfolio administrators Served on advisory boards for transfer credit evaluations

Orientation Acted as transfer voice on advisory boards Were present at January Orientation

First Week Created fun, and well attended welcome back events A possible phone-a-thon to call and welcome/check in on transfers

Communications Worked on reevaluating the information that transfers receive before starting Created a check list to help students be prepared for their first days at Clemson

Activities Held a Transfer Tip Off, a tailgate before one of the basketball games Had a Dessert night for transfers to “meet and greet”

Mentors Worked with the residents of the Tiger Den to evaluate the program Have started compiling mentors to be a part of the mentoring program

LONG TERM GOALS Implement an effective mentoring program Lower the failure rate of transfer students To facilitate a better social environment To inspire and influence other universities to give transfer students the representative voice they need and deserve Reduce Academic Transfer SHOCK.

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