|
Funds from College Connection 2+2+2 Program allow pilot programs to improve transfer student success across Texas
DENTON (UNT), Texas – The University of North Texas has been putting a $270,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's College Connection 2+2+2 Program to good use, expanding and strengthening its outreach to potential and current transfer students. The ultimate goal is to provide results for the state, where transfer student success is critical for reaching the goals of Closing the Gaps. The College Connection 2+2+2 grant from THECB has allowed UNT to ramp up existing successful efforts and test innovative programming that results in real differences for transfer students in Texas. The efforts have been largely successful, and are scalable for use by Texas' universities. "Transfer student success is of great importance to reaching our state's bachelor degree attainment goals. We must amplify the strategies that work and we must seek new approaches that lead to the timely graduation of transfer students," said Troy Johnson, vice provost, who is principal investigator on the grant project. With the grant, UNT formed a specially targeted team of transfer experts within the Enrollment Management and Admissions departments. As part of UNT's transfer team the group works collaboratively with financial aid and student affairs to provide critical and timely support services to students. Some of the top lessons learned so far include the importance of personalized services to these students who have varying academic and personal backgrounds, using tracking mechanisms to monitor steps along the way to transfer, and strengthening cross-campus teams that focus on transfer student success. One special project tested was a transfer student event that included course planning, an overnight in the residence hall, and forging personal connections with university staff and students. Students were able to meet with advisors for an evaluation of their transcripts, attend presentations on admissions and financial aid, speak with current transfer students and attend several campus engagement activities. As part of the expectation of the grant to help others to learn from UNT's work, a representative from the THECB and staff from other universities and community colleges campuses that have 2+2+2 grant program also attended the Transfer Weekend event to observe the programming being implemented at UNT. Ellen Satlof, whose son David transferred to UNT from Collin College, noted that personal attention from grant staff made a difference to her son. Of the staff member who assisted David, she said "She took the time to talk to us, make us feel comfortable, answer all our questions, and even set us up with someone in admissions to go over his transcript. She has kept up with us to make sure all our needs were met. Coming in to such a large university can be overwhelming, but she made us feel just the opposite." The grant also focuses on sharing financial aid information with students and presenting transfer-specific details, including workshops about the FAFSA. Since the grant began the transfer team has interacted with more than 2,700 community college students and a number of parents helping their children through the process. UNT was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as No. 1 in Texas and No. 4 nationally among public U.S. colleges and universities with the largest number of transfer students.
UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Alyssa Yancey (940) 565-3510
Email: Alyssa.aber@unt.edu
Latest News
UNT Military History Center to begin discussion series on Pearl Harbor Day
Dr. Brian Linn, Society for Military History, will present the inaugural lecture, The American Way of War -- The inaugural lecture of UNT's Military History Center Discussion Series on Dec. 7
War correspondent Anna Badkhen to discuss book at UNT
Anna Badkhen will read excerpts from her book and discuss her reporting method and the craft of writing as a war correspondent during her free lecture Dec. 1.
UNT Glee to present fall 2010 performance
UNT Glee, one of the first college and university glee clubs inspired by the televion show, Glee, will perform Dec. 1 and 2.
UNT dance students present "Synchronized Imbalances"
Dances inspired by the struggles of divorce, the comfort of a mom and the support of a community are among the originally choreographed works to be presented by students in the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre.
V. Lane Rawlins named sole finalist for UNT presidency
The UNT System Board of Regents approved the nomination of V. Lane Rawlins Nov. 12, beginning the 21-day period required by Texas law before they can officially appoint him to the presidency. Rawlins has been serving a one-year appointment as UNT president.
| 
