'Transition Thursdays' give potential transfer students opportunity to observe U of M

Transition Thursdays, a new program at The U of M this semester,allows possible transfer students the opportunity to get afirst-hand look at the U of M and what it has to offer.

"It was amazing," said Ballew. "I found Transition Thursdaysextraordinarily helpful."

The students take tours of the campus, have a brief counselingsession to help with academic planning and briefly look overtranscript and recommend courses to take before transferring.Potential students may also sit in on selected classes offered onThursdays.

The offices of Academic Transfer and Articulation and EnrollmentServices sponsor the program, which was developed to make certainthat transfer students are well informed about the change over toThe University, officials said.

"An effective transfer process is essential for Tennessee Boardof Regents intuitions," said Yolanda Mathews, coordinator ofAcademic Transfers and Articulation. "Transition Thursdays willallow transfer students to do the necessary research before theyapply to The University. It is our goal to achieve this missionthrough the program."

Transfer students at The University comprise more than half ofthe student population and out number first time freshman at The Uof M. Students are most likely to transfer into The University inthe fall and spring, not summer, terms.

"There are more than half of transfer students that make up theenrollment on campus," said Gary Donhardt, director ofInstitutional Research.

The office of Academic Transfer and Articulation helpsundergraduate transfer students determine how courses taken atother institutions will apply at The U of M. With the rapidlyincreasing number of transfer students enrolling at The University,the department has prepared for the added responsibility.

"We have staff members in place and have resourceful advisors toassist with the demand of the students," Mathews said. "Our goal isto keep incoming transfers students here at The University."

On average, transfer students bring a significant amount ofhours in from their previous intuition. And in many cases, studentsare able to receive full credit for the hours they previouslyearned.

"Transfer students usually bring about 54 credit hours fromtheir previous institution," Mathews said. "It is important thatthey know that those hours will go towards their degree."

The U of M has a course-to-course equivalency articulationagreement that has been designed by the office of admission toidentify specific courses that may be easily transferred from othercolleges and private institutions in Tennessee as well as out ofstate.

"One of the highest priorities for colleges and universities inthe Tennessee Board of Regents system is to assure the seamlesstransfer of courses among institutions," Mathews said.