ODU, Community College System Hold Transfer Summit
June 29, 2018
About 120 faculty members, advisers and administrators met at Webb University Center to discuss methods for streamlining the transfer pathways between the community colleges and the University.
Old Dominion University and the Virginia Community College System held their first Transfer Partnership Summit on June 8 to enhance the transfer process and celebrate their long-lasting collaboration.
About 120 faculty members, advisers and administrators met at Webb University Center to discuss methods for streamlining the transfer pathways between the community colleges and the University.
ODU President John R. Broderick and Glenn DuBois, the chancellor of the community college system, offered words of encouragement during the event. They also received a briefing on the changing nature of enrollment in higher education nationally from Ed Venit, managing director of EAB, and Tom Sugar, vice president of partnerships.
"We have a long history of serving transfer students at Old Dominion University," Broderick said. "In recent times, the national conversation has shifted to encourage the kinds of partnerships that we have had in place for decades."
Attendees met in small groups in the morning to allow faculty members to discuss course content, share syllabi and explore methods of improving communication among institutions. Administrators discussed policies and procedures, such as reverse transfers, to help students complete degree programs more efficiently and economically.
Brian Payne, Old Dominion's vice provost for academic affairs, encouraged participants to view transfer students as students the institutions share rather than students who are "owned" by an institution. "Our students come to us from multiple pathways. We need to honor, embrace and formalize those pathways in order to best serve our students," he said.
The advisers reviewed ODU's services for transfer students, including a soon-to-be launched comprehensive website, and the pre-ODU admission program, which allows the student to submit an online "letter of intent" to transfer to the University. Transfer students, including ODU Student Government Association President Isaiah Lucas and Shaunique Lamb, president of the Tau Sigma honor society for transfer students, also attended the event. They provided feedback on transfer pathways and shared personal stories.
After lunch, ODU participants, representing the colleges, ODUOnline, the regional higher education centers and the Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services, spoke with EAB representatives on the future of academic advising and its impact on retaining and graduating students.
The event concluded with a wrap-up discussion on next steps for accomplishing the goals addressed throughout the day.
