Situated in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex—and in close proximity to two large community college systems (Collin College and the Dallas County Community College District)—our university has been a go-to destination for transfer students interested in a top-tier baccalaureate education.

Transfer students make up more than 38% of our current undergraduate population. Ranging in age from 17 to 68, they arrive at UT Dallas with diverse experiences and educational backgrounds. We have exemplary transfer student retention rates—according to the most recent data, approximately 80% of our students persist from year one to year two—but we know that students who transfer between institutions often face a variety of challenges as they acclimate to new academic and social environments. Although more than 60% of our transfer students are 22 years old and younger, thus similar in age to "traditional" first-time-in-college students, some of our students have reported that they’ve struggled to meet like-minded peers, establish a healthy school-work-life balance, or connect to our campus community.

New Transfer Student Success (NTSS) creates a framework for helping new transfer students overcome these challenges, feel a sense of belonging on campus, and develop the skills they’ll need to succeed at UT Dallas and in their chosen career paths.

Developed with the most current student success research in mind—with a particular focus on sense of belonging and student engagement—NTSS aims to boost student learning outcomes, and thus both retention and graduation rates, by encouraging new transfer students to participate in what George Kuh, Vincent Tinto, and others refer to as “high-impact practices.” Of the many such practices in place at UT Dallas, NTSS is designed to enhance two in particular: peer mentoring and transfer student seminars.

Aiming to help new students adjust to campus, we’ve developed an innovative peer mentoring program that matches transfer students with more advanced transfer student mentors who can provide support, encouragement, and helpful advice during that crucial first year on campus. We believe that new students will benefit from close contact with an experienced peer who has already successfully navigated the transfer process. Our goal, as we work to expand the program, is to eventually provide meaningful mentoring opportunities for all interested incoming transfer students.

Along with peer mentoring enhancements, we are working to increase new transfer students’ face-to-face interactions with UT Dallas faculty and staff through the creation of a seminar experience tailored to the needs of new students. In consultation with current transfer students and key faculty and administrative stakeholders, we’ve committed to providing a seminar experience for all UT Dallas students (not merely our first-time-in-college students), an introductory course that will prepare new transfer students to excel in their chosen fields of study, to take advantage of university supports, to develop meaningful connections with peers and student groups, and to professionalize early and often so as to make strong, favorable impressions on future employers.

We know that students face a variety of obstacles when they transfer from one institution to another. NTSS is an integral part of our ongoing institutional efforts to simplify the transfer process and improve transfer student success.