The Michigan College and University Partnership and Baccalaureate Education Achievement Track (MICUP-BEAT) at EMU is hosting National Transfer Student Week (NTSW), an opportunity to advocate for transfer students and highlight struggles students face when transitioning from one college to another.
The program is being held from Oct. 15-21 with this year‘s theme “In These Transfer Shoes,” bringing awareness to EMU’s campus about what it's like to be a transfer student.
“I am so excited to share that we have our own NTSW webpage,“ Audrey Lama, graduate assistant and part of the MICUP-BEAT program, said. “This platform will allow students and staff to view what we have planned for each day and sign up for events like Transfer Student Game Day and Fowling for Transfers. In short, each event is different, but I can assure you if you come, we will have food, EMU SWAG, and a fun time for you."
The first day consisted of Transfer Student Game Day, where the program hosted students and their families at EMU’s Saturday football game.
On Monday, there will be the Transfer Crawl, the program’s kick-off event. This event will allow students to explore the Student Center, where there is a ton of campus offices, like the UACDC, Ombuds, DRC, Campus Life, Swoops Food Pantry, and more, giving students a taste of what EMU has to offer.
They will also be hosting a food truck, Muddies Soul Food, from one of the transfer students, Aaron Jackson, and DJ LiXxer.
The last event will be the Fowling for Transfers event, in which students will attend the brand-new Fowling Warehouse in Ypsilanti.
Lastly, each day a student from the MICUP-BEAT program will be taking over Instagram for a day to show the community what it's like to walk “In These Transfer Shoes.”
“I think the unique part about transfer students is the diversity they bring,” Lama said. “Therefore, when planning NTSW, we wanted to create an inclusive week where each student had the opportunity to attend at least one event. We have a weekend event, a day time event, an evening event, a virtual event, and our Campus Sign Exhibit that can be done on one’s own time. We wanted transfers to feel like they belong in ways in which we meet them where they were at. Therefore, I hope NTSW shows transfers they are vital to EMU and they do belong here.”
Lama hopes transfer students will be able to benefit from this experience and feel like they are at home and being celebrated.
