Admissions and Advising Center to add transfer events

Making the transfer from community college to a four-year institution can be a daunting process. According to Kemper Steele, Coordinator of Advising and Transfer Programs, just having a conversation with an advisor is not enough for transfer students. PVCC’s Admissions and Advising Center is considering adding more events to help students with the transfer process, in addition to having a good advisor and ample guidance.

Steele said the Center is trying to offer programs that provide students with more assistance, rather than simply advising. This is a new plan and, said Steele, “One idea that we want to implement is to do more bus trips for students to four year colleges and universities.”

He is not yet sure of the potential cost involved in these trips, but hopes they will be free of charge to students.

Some students’ reaction to this proposal has been positive. Halima Rahim, who wants to graduate with an Associate of Arts degree and transfer to a four year school, said, “I believe having trips to four year schools is a great idea. I am a representative on the Student Government Association and I was thinking of suggesting this idea to the Transfer Committee, because it allows the students to go on the campus and experience it in person and get a feel of what the university is like, and maybe talk to the students that are currently attending that university.”

Rahim thinks that just having the list of classes available for these schools is not helpful for transfer students, and the advisors should inform students more thoroughly. “For example, they can give the students information on the cost of tuition, books, and things like that,” she added.

The next step, Steele said, is to try to coordinate information session events with specific universities, such as UVA or JMU. These info sessions and events may not only help students obtain more information, but will also help them get into direct contact with the four year universities.

Lastly, PVCC has a new way for colleges to come to campus this year and provide “on the spot” admissions. On the spot admission means a representative from a four-year school will come to campus and review students’ applications and transcripts. Steele is not sure what schools are listed, but they are still working to have some well-known institutions. In this case, students do not need to mail in their applications; everything will be reviewed at PVCC.

The Admissions and Advising Center has also expanded their hours to provide more help for students. The new hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For more information about transferring to a four-year college, contact Kemper Steele at ksteele@pvcc.edu or visit the Admissions and Advising Center in the Main Building.