Recently, president C.L. Max Nikias of the University of Southern California published a piece
in The Washington Post patting himself and USC on the back for “leading the way” in recruiting and admitting low-income community college transfer students. This piece, rightfully, described how low-income community college transfer students can benefit from an education at a top private research university. Yet, it failed to mention that it does not provide institutional support for its transfer students once they arrive to USC. Despite new efforts from the Undergraduate Student Government there is a general institutional apathy, disregard, and unpaid attention to providing support for the transfer student population.
The visibility of transfer students increased only recently in the wake of the Undergraduate Student Government’s event, the SpeakSC Transfer Forum and the newly created TransferMation Series. The Transfer Forum was met with anticipation since several students, both on the Facebook page and in attendance at the forum, mentioned that they had been waiting for such an event to discuss their experiences and concerns. The Facebook page noted that the “appropriate administration [would] be in attendance to hear and participate in the discussion.” Yet, at the event, there were no administrators present and the only non-student in attendance was academic advisor, Kairos Llobrera. Llobrera, unfortunately, mentioned that he did not have the power to change anything that was not related to academic advising. This was a major disappointment in that it reflected a lack of seriousness and commitment to the concerns transfer students were bringing to the table.
Later, in the month of April, USG presented the TransferMation Series, which is a “series of [three] one-hour workshops designed to highlight opportunities for transfer students to maximize their Trojan experience.” These one-hour workshops consist of planning for the summer, networking and interviewing skills, and progressive degrees held in the month of April and ending in an ice-cream social. This is to the extent that USC, in the last few years, has created any programming for its transfer students.
Despite the upward trend in programming, a renewed focus on transfers, and USG’s TransferMation month these new efforts fall short of providing solid institutional support for transfers, especially community college transfer students. However, their visibility is necessary and USC needs to be held accountable for boasting these statistics but failing to assist transfers in their transition to USC and their integration.
The only physical space constructed for transfer students, generally, that could speak to a institutional commitment to transfer students was the Transfer and Veteran Student Program’s office. The TVSP was founded in 2011 by the Office of Campus Activities under the Division of Student Affairs to “facilitate a smooth transition into USC for transfer and veteran students that results in a strong connection to the Trojan Family.” Recently, I phoned the Office of Student Affairs asking for more information on TVSP and was met with confusion. No one knew what it was, where it was located, or if it even existed. It appeared I was the only one aware of it. I was later directed to an obscure office and was met with the same confusion. No one knew where or what the Transfer and Veteran Student Program’s office was about. This furthered my speculation that this office is no longer, especially since the Veteran’s Resource Center was recently created in November 2014. This office however, remained as the last piece of symbolic evidence of an administration and university committed to providing support for its transfer students and securing a smooth transition to USC. Yet, in my experience as a community college transfer student, and in the experience of some of my transfer peers, we only ever received less than 3 emails from the Transfer and Veterans Student Program’s office. These emails were only regarding a luau or barbecue in the fall for transfers and veterans and nothing after.
Overall, USC needs to learn that the needs of transfer students cannot be remedied or met with an ice-cream social, a one hour workshop, or a fall luau. Their efforts need to come in the form of a strong institutional commitment to ensuring that transfer students have access to all the tools and resources they need to succeed at USC.
This is a huge issue that I think the majority of students who are not transfer students are quick to ignore. I wonder if the issue lies mainly in a lack of resources to help transfer students become integrated with the rest of the student body, or if the issue is a lack of resources for low income students in general? USC also boasts about it's financial aid provisions, but then the school provides almost no programs or resources for these students upon arrival at USC. Students are essentially tricked into thinking that with a full ride, they'll have the same college experience as everybody else will, when this is not the case. Low income students will have trouble getting involved in extracurriculars that require dues, or even simply participating in the same social events as their friends- yet USC does little to provide alternative experiences for low-income students.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what sort of institutional support is expected for transfer student, but from I've experienced as a subsidized transfer student myself, I've had access to all opportunities that non-transfer students have. Most major universities have tutoring services, academic counseling, financial aid workshops and even mentorship programs to aid students in a manner that is particular to their needs. The only substantial difference between the experience of a right out of high school student, and a transfer student, is a difficulty in integrating with people whom have already developed social circles. As a freshman, you're all in the same terrifying boat, but as a transfer, it's just you and the few other transfers that got in. Despite this, I'm not so sure these sorts of interactions can really be forced, and an ice cream social may be as far as an institution like USC can play in these manners. Aside from this aspect, there's only so much hand holding a university can do.
ReplyDeleteAs a transfer student myself, your piece really resonates with me. I couldn’t even recall any outreach in the fall about transfer information and help with integration. The only e-mails I can recall surfaced around April. This is definitely an underfunded issue that needs more attention. With such a large amount of transfer students, USC does little to advise and make them feel comfortable in their new environment. I would support banding together the transfer student community and trying to raise awareness from the student government. It is unacceptable that there aren’t enough allocated resources and even consciousness of this obvious need.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! I think the simple fact that there was no "appropriate administration" for transfer students to voice their concerns to shows the little concern they have in improving the USC transfer experience.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, coming in as a sophomore made it difficult to create friendships and build networks because everyone else had created bonds during their required year of living in the dorms. However as transfer students we are not required to live on campus and even worse, we're not guaranteed a spot. I think this is a huge fault in the system because having the opportunity to get housing makes a huge difference in the amount of involvement you have at USC, as well as the level of integration you have. Housing allows us to have an easier transition to the USC community as well as an easier way to create friendships and networks by having roommates; roommates which later become our support system throughout college.
Preach girl. I transferred in my sophomore year and it was unbelievably hard to find my place. I even attended the TVSP luau, but even those conversations ended there. From reading the previous comments, I am not alone! I'm thinking we just screen shot this page, print it, and post it all over campus to get some attention. If you put 19 or so random students into one writing 340 course and AT LEAST five students agree (I'm sure there are more) then the issue is serious.
ReplyDeleteActually, wait I realize this is your op-ed. I would just add a few student comments and turn it in to LA Times or Huff Po! Let's demand change!
ReplyDeleteYou should seriously send this in to the University because it is not right for USC's administration to ignore the needs of such a large group of valued members of the student body while simultaneously boasting about leading the way in the recruitment and admission of low-income community college transfers.
ReplyDeleteCollege is about so much more than merely courses and feeling welcome and knowing about all the opportunities available to oneself should be a part of every student's experience, regardless of one they arrive. In my high school, I tried to implement a mentoring program for students new to the school district by matching them with a mentor with similar interests. With all the different leaders at USC, it shocks me that something similar is not in place already, especially when so many students transfer in and some many students would love to add mentoring to their resumes.
Perhaps if you ever get ahold of this elusive TVSP again, you could suggest something of the sort. If the administration doesn't start actually achieving what they humbly boast, this issue needs attention called to it.
I wrote a long comment commending your post, but it seems to not have saved. I completely agree with you. I was lucky enough to have friends at USC already, and I also transferred from another Los Angeles college, allowing me to visit my freshman year friends. Since the dorm experience is such a formative process for friendships, transfer students are inherently at a disadvantage compared to four year students. Since USC is such a big school, the student body does not tend to congregate in one area on campus, leaving students to make friends in the classroom and clubs. Transferring to USC is not like transferring to a small college where everyone knows one another. If transfer students do not make an effort to meet people outside of school occasions, they will likely experience isolation and minimal interactions with their fellow students. "Transfer events" are a positive move, but they do solve the overall integration issue.
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