Mary MacIntire

Contributing Writer

National Transfer Week has just come to an end. To celebrate students who have transferred in from other institutions, ESU held events and offered resources throughout Oct. 21 and Oct. 25.

This week was meant to highlight the journeys that transfer students have taken, and how that has led them to ESU. This also allows for students to connect with other transfers, and allows for open discussions about the struggles transfers face and the resources that are available.

“Transferring has been a journey of growth,” says Clara Wenk, a public relations and broadcast journalism major who transferred from Penn State. “While making friends and finding my place was tough at times, each challenge brought me closer to a sense of belonging.”

All week long there was trick-or-treating in the Dean of Arts and Sciences office and the Education Department for students to stop by and grab some candy during the day. On Tuesday there were walking tacos, which is a bag of chips with taco fillings. And on Wednesday, coffee and donuts were offered to students in the morning along with a goodie bag. Inside it contained an encouraging message from Provost Dr. Margaret Ball and the other deans of ESU.

“Your diverse experiences enrich our Warrior community in countless ways,” the letter said. “We value you, and we are excited to support you as you continue to grow and succeed.”

One of the ways they aimed to support students was on Thursday and Friday during the open discussion, “Am I on Track?” event. This allowed students to come with any questions or concerns they had about ESU or their transfer in general.

The support did not stop there. During the week students were encouraged to stop by or contact the deans of their college during the school year with any questions. This is beneficial for new transfer students and even those who have already been on campus for a bit.

Many transfer students experience issues with credits, understanding new systems like WarriorFish and D2L, and knowing about the resources that are available on campus. When professors and advisors are busy during office hours, the dean of your department and another department could be an outlet for help.

Another way that they showed transfer student appreciation was on the College of Arts and Sciences Instagram page. All throughout the week they shouted out transfer students and told a bit about them. It also allowed students to promote their career goals.

The contact information for each dean of ESU can be found on the university’s website in the faculty directory. Reaching out to them can prove to be very helpful with current questions and in the future of your academic career.

According to ESU Insider, transfer students make 6.4 percent of the student population. That’s 360 students in total. Transfer students are a big part of the campus community, and their concerns should be heard. As ESU showed through National Transfer Week, they want to hear any issues transfers may have.