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UGA expands first-year, transfer student support

  • Tracy Coley and Stan Jackson

    • The University of Georgia is moving forward with plans to expand support for first-year and transfer students. The plans follow three recommendations made by the Presidential Task Force on Student Learning and Success in its final report to UGA President Jere W. Morehead.

    Included in the plans are the expansion of the monthlong residential Freshman College Summer Experience to support more underserved students, establishment of a campus-wide Council on the First-Year Experience and creation of a working group to bolster resources and programs for transfer students.

    “These initiatives build upon our existing successful first-year programs that help acclimate new students to UGA,” said Rahul Shrivastav, vice president for instruction. “This will significantly transform how the university offers support to underserved students.”

    The task force recommended steps to make the Freshman College Summer Experience more accessible to first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible and rural students. The university is implementing plans to make this recommendation a reality by summer 2018 as part of a comprehensive approach to facilitate a successful transition for all first-year students.

    Following another task force recommendation, Morehead is establishing a campus-wide Council on the First-Year Experience. This new council will foster collaboration among various offices that offer first-year programs and services and provide a centralized information resource for students and their families. The group will be co-chaired by Associate Vice President for Instruction Naomi Norman and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Howard.

    The task force also recommended expanding resources to support transfer students in their transition to the university. Under this initiative, Morehead has charged a working group to implement the specific strategies outlined in the task force report, including increasing collaboration with other system institutions; strengthening communications with transfer students; and enhancing information, resources and outreach provided to these students prior to orientation and during enrollment. The working group will be chaired by Director of Academic Advising Services Judith Iakovou and Associate Dean of Students Jan Barham.

    “I’m excited to get started on these foundational pieces to enhance the college experience for our students,” said Victor Wilson, vice president for student affairs. “This will have significant impacts for new students coming to UGA who need help transitioning to a large, Research-1 university.”

    The Task Force on Student Learning and Success, co-chaired by Shrivastav and Wilson, was charged last February with taking a fresh look at the university’s undergraduate learning environment to identify new opportunities to further enhance the educational experience for UGA students in and out of the classroom.

    “This university will never be satisfied with the status quo, and I am pleased to see the work of the task force beginning to take shape to enhance our learning environment,” said Morehead. “I look forward to announcing additional plans related to the recommendations in the coming weeks.”

    The task force, composed of a 20-member committee including senior faculty and administrators from a number of schools, colleges and units, provided 12 recommendations that were organized into three broad objectives: evolving the curriculum, enhancing teaching and learning, and expanding student support and mentoring.

    A full copy of the report is available for review at https://president.uga.edu/report.

    Transfer Student Working Group 

    Council on the First-Year Experience

     

     

     

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