Students and administrators addressed issues including social life, housing and academics from the perspective of transfer students at the first annual transfer student forum last night.
The forum, titled "The Experience," featured a panel of University officials and students.
Student Council College Rep. Tom Gibson, who transferred from the University of Florida, organized the event.
"The purpose of the forum is to voice issues and ask any questions," he said. "Improving student life is a hard process that requires dialogue."
Frank Popovich, association dean for transfers in the College, said transfer students are important to a university community.
"There is a richness transfers bring because of all the different backgrounds they have," he said. "I find that transfers have a great wealth of different experiences. I am always interested in prying open doors for transfers."
Transfer student and College Rep. Joshua Eubanks added transfers bring unique qualities to the University.
"I think that transfers are a very eclectic group that have certain aspects of diversity that aren't always apparent in a first-year sample," he said. "The dialogue that takes place is very important because it's easy [for transfers] to become marginalized even in a great social environment."
Members of both panels, as well as audience members, had the opportunity to voice their opinions about various social and academic issues related to student life at the University.
Many commented on the housing situation.
"Housing is an important issue for transfers," Gibson said. "I didn't know where I was living until about a week before school."
Eubanks agreed that housing needed to be discussed.
"I think housing is a major issue because it is so important for building up relationships," he said.
The forum also addressed academic issues that transfers encountered.
Third-year College student Eric Stangarone, who transferred from Northern Virginia Community College, expressed concern about registering for classes.
"Not knowing anything about ISIS, getting the classes I wanted was almost impossible," he said. "It was a difficult process."
Panelists at the event included Dean of Transfer Admissions Greg Roberts, Dean of Students Penny Rue, Cole Spencer of the Office of Housing, Orientation Coordinator Connie Freeman and Laurie Casteen, director of the office of orientation and new student programs.
Student panelists included Mariam Haldjian and Matt Bulloch, transfer student peer advisor tri-chairs, Council President Daisy Lundy, and Virginia Barb, former transfer student peer advisor tri-chair.
After the meeting, Gibson said he was pleased with the way the forum went.
"Dialogue shouldn't end now," he said. "We plan on building this up more in coming years."
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