Transfer Connection for Transfer Students

BY DONG SEONG LYU

Each year, 700 students transfer to Ramapo College from 135 colleges nationwide. As a first-time experience, transfer students have a harder time learning about college activities, especially if they are commuters.

However, an easier way for them to get involved is Transfer Connection, a program that provides new students to meet their peers and to socialize in college events. Transfer Connection frequently collaborates with other groups to create social events. According to their information page, the purpose of Transfer Connection “is to provide transfer students with multifaceted leadership opportunities to get involved and meet their peers.”

Hannah Kucks, a graduate who is in charge of the program, said, “Transfer Connection has a large list of members and roughly 10 dedicated members who attend our meetings. All of our events are inclusive of both resident and commuter transfer students.” Although the program welcomes all transfers, it seems that commuters have little awareness about the program.

Kucks said, “There is little feedback from commuters about Transfer Connection. We are hosting a focus group on March 23rd open to all transfer students who RSVP.  We will be advertising very soon and this is a great opportunity for commuter students to come share their opinions”

Perspective of Transfer Students

Some commuting transfer students, must sometimes juggle work, home and school.

One student in particular, who fits this criteria would be Kayla Cruz, a Communications major at Ramapo. Cruz said, “I’m a Senior now but I received my Associate’s Degree from Bergen Community College before I transferred to Ramapo. Like most transfer students, I came from a two-year school.”

She says, “I have heard of Transfer Connection but I never got to be a part of it. I thought of joining but I never had any time. Since I had to commute, work for my job, and work on assignments. I never got around to going to their meetings and events. Now that I look back, I’d advise students to look into it.”

Similar Programs Overseas 

And it seems that Ramapo may not be the only college that has a program that helps transfer students. Carlo Narciso, 21, a graduate from the Philippines, said, “When I was going to school in the Philippines, my college had a similar program to this. It was mainly for any international students who came abroad to study Nursing in the Philippines. Our main goal though was for the culture to be rediscovered to students who were born and raised in America.”

Narciso went to high school in America, however, and then went to the Phillipines to study Nursing at the University of Santos Tomas. He said, “Even for me, it was rough to find friends, but everyone here was so welcoming that it was easy. And any transfer student from an American college who came here would feel like they’re home. I’d say that this kind of program should be a part of every college.”

New Transfer And Veteran Center 

As the Center of Success continues to work with Transfer Connection, the CoS also plans to add a new center.

Hannah Kucks said, “The Center for Student Success and the Office of Financial Aid are proud to announce the opening of a brand new Transfer and Veteran Center on campus in E211. We will be having an initial opening on March 21st and a grand opening in the Fall 2016 semester.”

Not only is Transfer Connection a good way for students to feel welcome, but it helps them to find others who may have common interests. For any transfer student who is interested in the program, Transfer Connection normally has meetings at Bischoff Hall or will remind students where they will meet via their Facebook page.