Note: The following message was e-mailed to commission members on January 19, 2007.

To: Advising Transfer Students Commission Members
From: Jess Ray, Chair

Members of the Advising Transfer Students Commission,

I hope that everyone is off to a good start for this new year. We had our first day of classes yesterday and the campus is buzzing with activity.  I am sure that things are starting to pick up for everyone.

2007 NACADA Annual Conference — Since we are all kicking into high gear, I wanted to remind everyone that the NACADA call for presentations has gone out and that the deadline is February 10.  Please consider submitting a proposal on the topic of transfer students. I would love to see a presentation that would deal with transfer students and another commission. For example, in the January 5 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education on page A33 in the Athletics section, is a blurb on "A Transfer Student's Eligibility Challenge". I think that an interesting session would be on transfer students and NCAA challenges of advising and eligibility. This would also be an opportunity to work with the Advising Student Athletes Commission.

Other Items:

The Study of Transfer Students — January 28-30 is the Institute for the Study of Transfer Students in Fort Worth. This annual event is co-sponsored by NODA, NACADA, AACRAO, NRCFYE, and the University of North Texas. I have been to this in the past and wish that I could attend this year. It is a wonderful holistic experience that focuses on the transfer student. If you are not already attending, the deadline for registration for this year has passed. If you didn't get to go this year, check out the information and consider attending next year. Information on the Institute is available at http://www.unt.edu/transferinstitute.

Transfer in the News — The Commission on the Future of Higher Education has made several recommendations regarding transfer students.  A good summary can be found in the September 1, 2006 Chronicle of Higher Education.  The Commission report also referred to as the Spelling Report had recommendations for Federal and state policy makers as well as institutional recommendations.

An example from the Chronicle, page A44 — "Institutions should: Review and revise standards for transfer of credits among higher-education institutions to improve access and reduce time to completion." The majority of information that relates to Transfer students can be found on page A44.

Transfer Questions — A colleague recently shared with me that the American Association of State Colleges and Universities listserve had the following question in December that generated quite a few responses. The question was "Does some external agency (state coordination board, other agency) have regulations that control the conditions under which college credit earned elsewhere can be accepted by your institution?"

Again, please consider submitting a proposal on transfer students for the 31st NACADA Annual Conference. The deadline is just a few weeks away. 

Jess
Advising Transfer Students Commission Chair

Jess Ray
Interim University Registrar
Illinois State University
309-438-8642, jdray@ilstu.edu