2021 Oklahoma Statewide Transfer Student Success Conference Agenda
8:00-8:30 — Registration and Check-in
Ballroom Lobby - Located on the 2nd Floor of the Student Union
8:30-8:40 — Welcome
Dr. Jeanette Mendez, Interim Provost, Oklahoma State University
8:40-9:00 — The Case for a Statewide Transfer Collaborative
Cheryl Kleeman, Director of Transfer and Student Veteran Success, Oklahoma State University
9:00 – 9:50 Update from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Rachel M. Bates, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational Partnerships, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Stephanie Beauchamp, Ed.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education collect data from all public higher education institutions in Oklahoma through the Unitized Data System (UDS). This session will discuss the robust student data collected through UDS in the context of statewide student transfer, success, and completion, along with transfer student demographics.
9:50 - 10:00 — Break
10:00 - 10:45 — Break-Out Session 1
A) Ballroom: Supporting International Transfer Students
Dr. Vivian Wang, OSU Director of Global Partnerships
Mr. Tim Huff, OSU Director of International Student Scholars
International students are a unique yet diverse group of individuals here on campus. Our challenge is how to support international students as a part of the larger OSU family while still recognizing their unique cultural heritage and needs. How can this be effectively achieved through campus wide efforts? This session will share the strategies that OSU implemented to support international transfer students’ success and to enhance their sense of belonging and quality of campus experience.
B) Case Study 408: Understanding Military Transfer Credit
Tom Joyce, OSU Academic Advisor College of Education and Human Sciences, President of the OSU Veteran Faculty and Staff Association
When a Student Veteran enrolls in an institution, they sometimes bring college credits with them from their military training, which is great. However, depending on their desired degree requirements and how their military credits are assessed, they are not always able to use their credits, and it sometimes hinders their opportunity to complete additional courses, which will help prepare them for their future careers. This presentation will start by providing a very brief overview of the American Council of Education and how the association reviews military courses to provide college credit recommendations. We will then discuss concerns Student Veterans face due to common issues when assessing military credits and how to address these concerns by determining if a course from a student’s Joint Services Transcript could be degree applicable. The presentation will also provide examples of best practices from other states and institutions and will conclude with a question and answer session to help ensure the best possible service for our Student Veterans.
C) Case Study 416: Fostering a Transfer Sending Culture at NOC Stillwater
Diana Watkins, Vice President for NOC Stillwater
This session will briefly outline the mission and history of the NOC/OSU Gateway Program and look at the ways we partner in academic and co-curricular arenas, focusing on important steps we’re taking to prepare our students for transfer to OSU and track their success after transfer.
11:00 - 11:45 — Break-Out Session 2
A) Ballroom:“But to experience it in my way is much different.”: Transfer students in their own words
Dr. Melissa Hayt, UCO Senior Director, Retention and Completion
This session will explore the lived experiences of transfer students through their own voices. As we listen to these voices we will consider how their stories can impact our processes and practices. The session will summarize the themes heard through their stories, identify common road blocks transfer student experience in their transitions, and discuss implications for practitioners. Come and listen to their voices as you listen for ways you can improve the experience for transfer students on your campus.
B) Case Study 408:Who are transfer students? Understanding the intersecting identities of the transfer student population to better support their success.
Ramya Chandrashekar, OSU Undergraduate Admissions International Evaluator
Transfer students differ in many ways when compared to traditional first year students who attend only one post-secondary institution after high school. The presenter will discuss the transfer student population demographics and considerations in working with transfer students that makes them unique. The presenter will also highlight theoretical frameworks such as intersectionality that can inform strategies to support transfer student persistence to degree completion and retention.
C) Case Study 416:Reverse Transfer
Rita Peaster, OSU Registrar
Dr. Rick Edgington, NOC Vice President for Enrollment Management
This session will provide an overview of reverse transfer, review the benefits for transfer students, and highlight the reverse transfer partnership between Oklahoma State University and Northern Oklahoma College.
12:00-12:50 — Lunch
Browse Session featuring Oklahoma State University campus resources, offices, and academic colleges
1:00 - 1:45 — Break-Out Session 3
Dr. Laura Latta, THEC Executive Director
Emily Tichenor, TCC Director of University Transfer
Launching a higher education consortium is complex, time intensive, and delicate work. This presentation provides a reflective look at the formation of the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium. Tulsa offers a wide variety of higher education opportunities to its residents. These opportunities can be elevated further by strong institutional partnerships to support students. Tulsa is home to Tulsa Community College, the most widely attended community college in Oklahoma with over 20,000 students enrolling annually. Creating seamless pathways from the community college to any of the local private or public universities requires institutional collaboration. Presenters will share about the origins of the Tulsa Transfer Project, the development of cross-institutional transfer maps, the role of a citywide task force in forming the consortium, the critical investment from the local philanthropic community, and key learnings from each phase of the Consortium’s development.
B) Case Study 408: Onboarding Transfer Students for Success
Dr. Deb Vanoverbeke, Assistant Dean, OSU Ferguson College of Agriculture
A casual conversation about tips and tricks for onboarding transfer students and setting them up for success.
C) Case Study 416:Designing a Transfer Orientation Experience
Jacey Goerlitz, OU Assistant Director of Camp Crimson & Transfer Programs
In August 2021, the Office of New Student Program at the University of Oklahoma launched a new week-long orientation model for all incoming students. As part of the new model, a 5-day transfer experience was created to engage incoming transfer students. This new orientation experience gave transfer students the opportunity to integrate into the university community, connect with peers and mentors, receive mandatory trainings, and attend social and academic programming across campus. Come hear about the development, execution, and where we are heading with transfer orientation in New Student Programs at OU.
2:00 - 2:45 — Transfer Student Panel
An opportunity to speak with and hear from a diverse sampling of transfer students at Oklahoma State University.
2:50 - 3:00 — Closing and Survey
Thank you for attending! Please fill out the survey and let us know what you thought. We look forward to seeing you next year!