Students transfering to, not from, De Anza
Katia Protsenko
Issue date: 9/21/09 Section: Editorial
But despite campus resources that are already at a breaking point, more needs to be done at the administrative level to ease the reverse transfer's introduction to community college life.
So what can administrations do?
Despite the perceived maturity and easy adjustment of return transfers (they've been to college, they know what it's like), many still struggle to navigate a new place. Community colleges nationwide have a responsibility to help this growing population of students find their way.
An example of such outreach was implemented last year at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH, which began offering formal group counseling sessions and meetings for returning transfer students.
While this population may arrive at community college with an inflated sense of confidence when it comes to navigating the bureaucracy of credits, college applications, and course registration, the fact is that every school is different, and it's easy to get lost.
De Anza and community colleges nationwide can implement programs and offer resources to help this growing demographic in their landscape, whether it's offering a class similar to "Orientation to College," specifically structured for reverse transfer students, increasing counseling availability or simply advertising its existing resources more widely.
Granted, funding is tight, but with an open mind and creativity, great things can be achieved without much strain on a college's finances.
While reverse transfer students are a growing population, this is not a group that sucks up administrative resources without giving back to the community college environment. Reverse transfer students actually have a lot to offer a community college campus.
According to "Reverse Transfers in the Community College" by Christine LeBard, this population can serve as a motivator to younger students. With their experience in the career world and higher education, these students often "display maturity, dedication and seriousness." Reverse transfers are also more likely to participate and encourage a deeper analysis in classroom discussion.
So what can administrations do?
Despite the perceived maturity and easy adjustment of return transfers (they've been to college, they know what it's like), many still struggle to navigate a new place. Community colleges nationwide have a responsibility to help this growing population of students find their way.
An example of such outreach was implemented last year at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, OH, which began offering formal group counseling sessions and meetings for returning transfer students.
While this population may arrive at community college with an inflated sense of confidence when it comes to navigating the bureaucracy of credits, college applications, and course registration, the fact is that every school is different, and it's easy to get lost.
De Anza and community colleges nationwide can implement programs and offer resources to help this growing demographic in their landscape, whether it's offering a class similar to "Orientation to College," specifically structured for reverse transfer students, increasing counseling availability or simply advertising its existing resources more widely.
Granted, funding is tight, but with an open mind and creativity, great things can be achieved without much strain on a college's finances.
While reverse transfer students are a growing population, this is not a group that sucks up administrative resources without giving back to the community college environment. Reverse transfer students actually have a lot to offer a community college campus.
According to "Reverse Transfers in the Community College" by Christine LeBard, this population can serve as a motivator to younger students. With their experience in the career world and higher education, these students often "display maturity, dedication and seriousness." Reverse transfers are also more likely to participate and encourage a deeper analysis in classroom discussion.