Haljit Basuljevic—Reporter
The goal to ease the registration process for transfer students begins by first educating them early on.
Undergraduate Admissions Director Tony Pace understands all too well the common complaints most students have and urges them to be adamant when it comes to paperwork.
“The closer you get to that registration deadline, the more problems you’re going to have. Classes are full,“ said Pace.
Timing is a challenge for many transfer students due to the narrow window openings in November while most community colleges end their semesters in December.
The notable differences are accounted for as estimates for fall transfers entirely outnumbers those in the spring–835 to 300, respectively.
Of those 300, 120 registered for classes the week before school started. With that number in mind, it is easy to imagine the disorientation hitting them all at once if they wait any longer.
Even then, issues with registration stem from a simple misunderstanding. This can come from the myth of ensuring that all student paperwork is properly secured and transferred before a student can even go to class. The biggest upset seems to come from delaying a whole semester because financial aid had not been
finalized.
“Why not come in June? We have to educate transfers that you don’t have to have your aid in order. You can wait for your aid in July,” said Interim Director of Academic Advisement Frank LaDore.
LaDore and his team have initiated such incentives by visiting a slew of community colleges twice a month.
There, he said, he would meet with students, asking and informing them, if they had successfully transferred their transcripts, LEP’s and reminding them of deadlines.
Getting students to register much earlier guarantees a better chance of being satisfied with course availability.
“It’s a cultural change so that students get the mindset that… ‘I can’t just do it anytime. I have to do it now,’” said Pace.
For some, the idea of a student doing it themselves is obvious.
“It really comes down to you. There were a couple of hoops I had jump through, but if you’re a diligent person, there’s not going to be a lot of problems,” said Saheed Sanders, a junior and finance major, who also felt those who tried to cut corners can suffer from unwanted setbacks.
About 40 percent of new students are transfer students. Amidst the clutter of fall applications, almost reaching 9,000, LaDore and Pace believe there has been an improvement in honing students early on.
This is despite limited resources and the fact staff dealing with the bulk of applications only amounts to seven members.
“It’s stressful…we’re always trying to provide better service. And you can always do better… it’s frustrating for students. I’m sure. It’s equally frustrating for us, “said Pace.
As a part of their service, LaDore said there there will be a Community College Counselor day to improve this issue.
