Commission/Interest Group:   Advising Transfer Students Commission     

Chair:     Betsy West     

Summary of Annual Meeting at National Conference (agenda items, issues, discussion topics, announcements, etc.)

The meeting time was divided into two roughly equal parts: Commission Business (including announcements, presentations, and issues) and Discussion

Commission Business:

• The Chair distributed the announcement of the Round Table discussions and encouraged members to participate. She also announced the Commission's planned group dinner and circulated the sign up sheet.
• A copy of the Commission's goals statement was distributed.
• The Service to Commission Award was presented to Kristin Ferguson. Members of the selection committee were introduced.
• Other Commission members receiving NACADA recognition were announced.
• Presenters of Commission Sponsored sessions were introduced and congratulated. A list of all sessions relating to advising transfer students was distributed.
• Members were encouraged to submit proposals for regional conferences as well as the 2004 national conference.
• The spring 2005 NACADA Journal will focus on Advising Different Educational Levels. This includes advising Transfer Students. Titles and abstracts for article proposals are due October 2004. Members were urged to consider submitting proposals.
• The Chair distributed a summary of proposed federal legislation relating to transfer practices prepared by Barmak Nessirian, Associate Director of AACRAO. Members shared information regarding state initiatives related to credit transfer.
• The Chair described current volunteer opportunities in ATS and encouraged members to indicate interest on the sign up sheet.

Discussion:

The Chair presented two topics for group discussion and asked each member to select one for a breakout session: "How Can NACADA and ATS better serve transfer Advisors?" And, "What's working: Ideas for better serving transfer students?" Since member unanimously chose the second topic, the first choice was dropped and four break out groups shared ideas for better serving transfer students. The consensus of the members was to continue in their break out groups to the end of the meeting time.

Approximate Number of Commission/Interest Group Members in Attendance:   50   

Critical Issues of Concern or "Hot Topics" Identified:

1. Federal and state legislation related to credit transfer practices

Unit Goals and Objectives for Next Year:

1. Advance the body of knowledge on advising transfer students. (NACADA Mission 2, strategy 2 )
2. Identify key issues in the advising and retention of transfer students. (NACADA Mission 1, strategy 1-A)
3. Identify innovative and effective methods used in advising transfer students. (NACADA Mission 1, strategy 1-A)
4. Increase level of involvement of commission members. (NACADA Mission 1, strategy 1-C)

Future Activities Planned:

1. Encourage presentations at regional and national conference
2. "Seed" topics to encourage discussion on Commission list serve
3. Continue new "tradition" of ATS group dinner during national conference
4. Promote Transfer Advising monograph when it becomes available.

Volunteer Opportunities Available Within the Unit :

• Award Selection Committee ( including the soliciting of nominations)
• Proposal Reading Committee
• Conference Commission Fair Booth
• Communications (regional liaisons and list serve)

Members Serving this Unit (committee members, liaisons, etc.) :

Committee memberships need to be updated to include new volunteers. That task has not yet been completed.