Student success can be measured by a number of means. But for transfer students, success can be as simple – or as hard – as learning to navigate the campus and find community. To help these students in their TCU journey, the AddRan College of Liberal Arts is adding a class next fall called Transfer Student Success (ADRN 20970).
“We need to do more to make transfer students feel part of our community,” said Muriel Cormican, associate dean of undergraduate studies in AddRan, who is spearheading the class. “That means providing more resources and programming with topics dedicated to these students, many of whom are so-called ‘nontraditional.’”
Because most of these students don’t live on campus, finding their “place” can be difficult. TCU has dedicated Transfer Connection Space, housed in Tom Brown Pete Wright, that serves as a lounge and study space. There’s also a position dedicated to serving transfer students and overseeing a student leadership team that plans events to keep them connected, but Cormican recognized more was needed.
“A university can be complex,” she said. “It’s a complicated whole new world for many, especially transfer students, who may not know where to go or who to ask and didn’t have the full orientation experience.”
Because of AddRan’s liberal arts focus, it made sense for the college to advocate for transfer students.
“We started with a random meeting with AddRan transfer students last year and asked them how we can address some of their challenges,” Cormican said. “Those range from class times not accommodating their schedules to being first-generation college students to being older than first-time, first-year students.”
From that meeting, a five-session series emerged to encourage transfer students to explore and share their stories and aspirations. They were casual sessions that, in the end, underscored the need for a more formal program. Now, the official one-hour elective credit class will be open to 15 AddRan transfer students, but Cormican said those from other colleges could join by permit.
“It’ll be experimental to start, but we hope to diversify and add more transfer students, including veterans,” she said.
Nicole Sinclair, who works in the Office of Admission, was one of those who participated in the fall series and provided feedback.
“As a TCU employee working toward my bachelor’s degree, I’m a nontraditional adult learner,” she said. “I was excited about this opportunity because, while I’m an older student, I’m not the only one going back to school. I also want to network and feel like I’m part of university life.”
Similar to Student Success Coaching, which assists students with identifying challenges, connecting with resources, creating action plans, and providing referrals to campus services and opportunities, Cormican hopes the Transfer Student Success will be well-received.
“When they leave TCU, we want transfer students to be as well prepared for the world as all of our students,” she said. “If you look at their GPAs, you’ll see they do very well. They also bring a unique experience that’s valuable to others. Ultimately, they want to – and are going to – succeed equally.”