Celebrating Transfer Students: A Guide to National Transfer Student Week

National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) is an annual event dedicated to celebrating transfer students and the professionals who support them. Observed during the third week of October, NTSW provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of transfer students, raise awareness of their unique challenges, and strengthen campus-wide commitment to transfer student success. This article delves into the significance of NTSW, its origins, and ways to get involved.

The Significance of National Transfer Student Week

Transfer students bring diverse life experiences, academic backgrounds, and personal strengths that enrich campus communities. They also navigate unique challenges as they move between institutions and work toward their educational goals. National Transfer Student Week offers the perfect opportunity to recognize transfer student contributions and strengthen campus-wide commitment to transfer success. As transfer champions, it's vitally important that we build awareness of common transfer barriers and the diverse student needs and identities within our transfer populations.

Origins of National Transfer Student Week

National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) was started by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) as a celebration of transfer students and the professionals who support them.

When is National Transfer Student Week?

National Transfer Student Week takes place in the third week of October each year. For example, National Transfer Student Week was held from October 21 to 25, 2024. This year, National Transfer Student Week is October 20-24, 2025.

Themes of National Transfer Student Week

Each year, NISTS announces a theme for National Transfer Student Week. For example, in 2024, the theme was “Unlocking Potential: Keys to the Transfer Journey.” NISTS invites transfer professionals nationwide to spotlight their transfer students and the many ways they enrich our campuses.

How to Celebrate National Transfer Student Week

National Transfer Student Week provides a flexible framework that adapts to your campus culture, available resources, and student population. Your celebration can be as simple as highlighting transfer success stories or as comprehensive as hosting week-long events across multiple departments. Here are some ideas for celebrating NTSW:

Events and Activities

Many universities and colleges host a variety of events and activities during National Transfer Student Week to celebrate transfer students. These events provide opportunities for transfer students to connect with each other, learn about campus resources, and celebrate their achievements. Examples of events held during NTSW include:

Social Events: These events provide opportunities for transfer students to meet each other and build community. Examples include welcome breakfasts, pizza parties, bowling nights, and Halloween socials.
Informational Workshops: These workshops provide transfer students with information about campus resources, academic success strategies, and career development. Examples include workshops on financial wellness, research opportunities, and job searching.
Recognition Ceremonies: These ceremonies recognize the achievements of transfer students and celebrate their contributions to the campus community.
Networking Forums: These forums provide transfer students with the opportunity to connect with faculty, staff, and alumni.
Game Nights: These events offer a relaxed environment for transfer students to connect over games and build community.

Sharing Transfer Student Stories

Leveraging the power of transfer stories can be a powerful way to build empathy for students' journeys. Although transfer-focused research has increased over the years, scholarship alone cannot provide a full picture of the transfer student experience. Sharing first-hand accounts can highlight the diverse pathways and challenges faced by transfer students.

Examples of National Transfer Student Week Celebrations

Here are some examples of how different institutions have celebrated National Transfer Student Week:

Colorado State University (CSU)

CSU celebrates all that transfer students bring to our campus. Throughout the week they hold events, give away U of M gear, and share facts and stories about the Transfer Student Experience. Transfer students can stop by any transfer week event and enter a drawing to win a U of M Sweatshirt! This year’s programming schedule included:

Read also: Eligibility for National Awards

Celebrating Transfers with Donuts and Cider: A National Transfer Student Week tradition here at CSU!
Board Game Night: Connecting over games. Snacks and light refreshments provided.
Yoga Session: A laid-back yoga session designed for transfer students.
Roommate Meet & Match: Meeting other students to find potential roommates, and learn more about living in Fort Collins.
Painting a Mini Pumpkin: Getting into the festivities by painting a mini pumpkin

Valdosta State University (VSU)

Here at VSU, they want our transfer students to feel seen, supported, and celebrated! This week they will be telling their stories and celebrating their achievements.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly celebrates National Transfer Student Week with a variety of events, including:

Bowling Night: Join transfer coaches and tutors at Mustang Lanes for a night of bowling, bonding, and tips on acing your Cal Poly experience.
Fall Fun Fair: Connect with many support programs here at Cal Poly!
Fall Career Fair: Encourage all transfers to attend.
Research Workshop: Learn about doing research at Cal Poly as a transfer student.
Breakfast with Transfer Staff, Faculty and Alumni: Spend time connecting with transfer staff, faculty and alumni!
Discussion with Alejandra Campoverdi: Discussion about her book, First Gen.
Campus Health & Wellbeing Event: Discover the physical, mental and wellbeing services available at Campus Health & Wellbeing (CH&W)!
Transfer Student Research Panel: Hear from current students about how they have gotten involved in various research opportunities during their time at Cal Poly.
Trivia and Games: Join us in playing trivia and other fun games, all while connecting with peers. This will be the perfect opportunity to destress from classes and build community.
Virtual Workshop: This workshop will cover the primary strategies and tools used to conduct an effective internship or job search.
Tacos and Transfer Talk: Come enjoy tacos and share your transfer experience.

University of Utah

The University of Utah celebrates National Transfer Student Week with a variety of events, including:

Crimson Transfer Honor Society (CTHS) Study Group: Free food!
Undergraduate Studies Student Success Week: Free snacks!
Business Transfer Student Society (BTSS) Social: Free food!
Service project:
College of Architecture & Planning Transfer Appreciation Day: Drop-in Advising and treats!
Salt Lake Community College Transfer Fair: Transfer Student Success is participating!
Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Info & Social with the Center for Student Access and Resources:
Scholarship Essay Writing Tips and University Writing Center Resources: Free food!
University Writing Center (UWC) Transfer Workshop on ChatGPT use and UWC resources.
Marriott Library tour given by Librarian Dale Larsen.
Success Coaching, Engage U & Student Affairs). Free snacks!
Service Project with Basic Needs Collective (BNC): Free snacks!
Transfer & Transform: Free coffee, tea & donuts!).
Transfer Student Resource and Networking Forum:
College of Social and Behaviorial Science (CSBS)Resume Writing Workshop: Free food!).
Family Fright-Fest by UPC
Halloween Transfer Student Social by Crimson Transfer Honors Society (CTHS).
College of Science Transfer Student Appreciation Day: Free donuts, swag & resources!)
Eats with Emily: Talk with a current transfer student).
Hands-on scholarship preparation workshop.
Transfer Thursday: Admissions event for incoming/prospective transfer students).
College of Engineering Transfer Treats
Crimson Transfer Honor Society (CTHS) Officer/Planning meeting.
Financial Wellness Center Transfer Workshop.
Transfer Student Experiences Mixer hosted by CESB.
Major Exploration for Transfer Students.
Meet the Office of Transfer Student Success.
Transfer Student Open House hosted by WRC.
Virtual U of U College of Engineering Transfer Information Session.
Reclaim Your Lunchbox - Transitions and Finding Community.
Transfer Scholars Clifton StrengthsFinder Workshop.
Crimson Transfer Honor Society National Transfer Student Week Celebration.

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University celebrates National Transfer Student Week with a variety of events, including:

We're Sweet on Transfers: Free cookies from Stick Boy.
Transfer APPreciation: FREE food to celebrate YOU, our transfer students!
Online Student Halloween Social during NTSW: Haunted themed trivia, some not-so-scary Jackbox games, and connections that are built to last.
Transfer Preview Day: A look into life at App State as a transfer student!
Aspire Appalachian program webinar: Review the transfer admissions application process and answer any questions.
Visits to NC Community Colleges: Free food, App State swag, and lots of great information.

Customizable Marketing Kit

NISTS provides a marketing kit with customizable images with the NTSW theme for each year. The kit includes flyers, posters, social media graphics, stickers, and t-shirt designs that you can adapt to match your institution's color scheme and branding guidelines. If you'll do the planning, we'll provide the artwork to help you advertise!

Understanding Transfer Pathways

Modern transfer journeys follow individualized pathways that serve students' specific circumstances. Students may start at community colleges before transferring to a university, begin at universities then transfer elsewhere for better program fit, or move between multiple institutions types in pursuit of their educational goals. National Transfer Student Week celebrations can honor multiple aspects of transfer support simultaneously. Your institution might recognize current students building toward transfer goals, celebrate alumni who have successfully transitioned to other institutions, welcome new transfer students adapting to your campus, and acknowledge the faculty and staff who facilitate these various transitions.

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