Perspectives on the Inaugural IACAC Transfer Summit

This article is comprised of a collection of reflections on the inaugural IACAC Transfer Summit that was hosted at the College of DuPage on February 12 by the ad-hoc Transfer Advisory Committee.

Kristina Black
Assistant Director of Admission
Elmhurst College

William Morrison
College Counselor
Highland Park High School

Laurie Cubit
Articulation and Transfer Coordinator
McHenry County College

Meredith Eskoff
Transfer Counselor
Northern Illinois University

Until now, many of us on the transfer side have been frustrated by the lack of information available to us at conferences, seminars, and breakout sessions. The Transfer Summit provided a number of information rich breakout sessions focusing on the transfer population and allowed us the opportunity to connect with other transfer focused professionals in the field.

My favorite session focused on recruitment strategies specific to transfer students. Over the years, I have attended several conferences that offered this type of breakout session, but there was never the focus on transfer students that I desired. In this particular session, we had the opportunity to hear about the transfer student recruitment model used at the University of Illinois. We also discussed common trends and hardships that we all face in working with transfer students. Not only was I able to have some of my own concerns validated, I was also able to bring fresh ideas back to my institution.

Any transfer counselor will tell you that transfer students are a breed all their own; they require a different level of information, attention, and communication. A transfer student cannot and should not be recruited the same way as a first-year student. The Transfer Summit recognized and addressed the specific needs of transfer students. For the first time, in my opinion, counselors were able to gather information unique to working with transfer students, brainstorm, network, and walk away having learned something new.

The Transfer Summit was a welcome and much needed addition to IACAC. I sincerely enjoyed my time and hope to see this professional development opportunity continue to grow in the coming years.

This program provided me unique insight into the world of transfer student admissions. The sessions involving the Illinois Articulation Initiative and the Pathway Program at Parkland College were particularly helpful to me in gaining a better understanding of the many ways that students might realize their college dream. In a world of shrinking budgets and ever-increasing tuitions, the two-year transfer route is something that needs to be seen as a viable route for students and families. The Transfer Summit gave me some valuable tools that I will use to assist my students in exploring all of their post-secondary options.

This program provided me unique insight into the world of transfer student admissions. The sessions involving the Illinois Articulation Initiative and the Pathway Program at Parkland College were particularly helpful to me in gaining a better understanding of the many ways that students might realize their college dream. In a world of shrinking budgets and ever-increasing tuitions, the two-year transfer route is something that needs to be seen as a viable route for students and families. The Transfer Summit gave me some valuable tools that I will use to assist my students in exploring all of their post-secondary options.

It was Friday morning, February 12, Transfer Summit day, the first of its kind sponsored by IACAC, an organization for college admission counselors and school counselors with which I had no association. I had registered to attend, but found myself wondering whether or not the sessions would apply to me and to my institution’s needs. I am a transfer coordinator at a community college, not an admission counselor. Would the sessions apply to transfer issues from a community college perspective? Would my time be well spent? Should I be attending, or should I be tackling projects piled high on my desk at McHenry County College? If I had not committed to carpooling with colleagues from another community college, I may have driven toward my workplace that Friday morning instead. I’m incredibly glad I didn’t! My day at the Transfer Summit was absolutely well spent.

Sessions ranged from innovative transfer partnership ideas to state transfer initiatives to transfer recruitment ideas. Attendees came from diverse institution types, including high schools, community colleges, and public and private baccalaureate colleges and universities, both in-state and out-of-state. The presence of high school counselors, community college and four-year institution admission staff, academic advisors, and transfer coordinators, each with an interest and connection to transfer issues, made for rich discussions. I came away with interesting partnership ideas and an even greater appreciation for innovative transfer initiatives in Illinois. It was the perfect opportunity to talk individually with colleagues from these diverse work backgrounds, each with a common goal: Student success. My only regret is that I was not able to attend each of the interesting sessions offered during Transfer Summit day.

Thank you, IACAC! I will be back next year.

I am looking forward to seeing how the transfer summit will grow. With such a vast knowledge base from all my colleagues and peers, I am ready to further cultivate and expand my knowledge to better assist transfer students.