Transfer students highlighted Oct. 21-25

"I transferred to UNG because I was looking for a new place to continue my education. I transferred from Georgia State, looking for more connections and greater opportunities," Lily Donley, a senior from Johns Creek, Georgia, said. "UNG has been that place for me and has taken me down so many new paths that I'm immensely grateful for."

Donley is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and is a transfer coach, a point of contact for applicants who can assist students with general questions.

"Transfer students often comprise a significant portion of our student bodies, yet they frequently navigate invisible barriers in their educational journeys. National Transfer Student Week serves multiple crucial purposes: it showcases the diverse experiences and valuable perspectives transfer students bring to our campus communities; it helps transfer students feel seen and connects them with essential resources; and it brings transfer challenges to the forefront, sparking important campus conversations about how we can enhance our programs and policies to better support this vital student population," Emily Kittrell, assistant director, NISTS, said. "By shining a light on transfer students and their stories, we not only celebrate the many valid pathways to reaching educational goals but also reinforce our commitment to creating more inclusive and effective educational environments for all."

Naidoo said that business and nursing degrees are the most sought-after degrees for transfer students.

National Transfer Student Week events will be held throughout the week and include:

• National Transfer Student Week Kickoff - Oct. 8, Student Resource Atrium, Oconee, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Coffee with an Academic Success Coach - Oct. 21, Student Center Common Area, Gainesville Campus, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• UNG Nursing program information session - Oct. 22, Student Health Services 296, Gainesville Campus, noon to 2 p.m.
• Transfer Tabling - Oct. 22, Lobby, Cumming Campus, 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
• Coffee with an Academic Success Coach - Oct. 23, 2nd floor of Hoag Student Center, Dahlonega Campus, 10-11:30 a.m.
• Doggies with SOS - Oct. 23, Robinson Ballroom, Student Center, Gainesville Campus, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Luncheon - Oct. 24, Hoag ABC Rooms, Dahlonega Campus, noon to 1 p.m.
• Luncheon - Oct. 25, Cleveland Ballroom 3110, Martha T. Nesbitt Academic Building, Gainesville Campus, noon to 1 p.m.

NISTS, founded in 2002 by former UNG President Bonita Jacobs, is based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Under her direction, NISTS became a forerunner in the discussion on transfer student success Kittrell said.