JMU welcomes more than 600 transfer students

The university is pleased to welcome more than 600 transfer students who became part of the JMU family this week. While they may be new to the university, they are well equipped for success, due in part to the Transfer 1787 August Orientation program.

In addition to taking part in general 1787 August Orientation programming, transfer students are offered several sessions specifically designed to ensure that they are acclimated to campus and aware of the opportunities and tools available to support their success as transfers.

ANTs (Assisting New Transfer Students) and TOPAs (Transfer Orientation Peer Advisers), led students through a series of events, which concluded on Sunday, Aug. 24, with the Transfer Convocation and Brunch. At the convocation, JMU administrators who support the transfer experience imparted advice and fellow transfer students discussed their experience.

Highlights from the brunch included:

• Having more than 20 years of personal and professional experience in supporting transfer students, Dr. Randy Mitchell, associate vice president of Student Success, shared his advice for crafting success stories at JMU. He urged students to have vision and purpose, broaden horizons, do the right thing, make thoughtful choices, serve somebody and embrace challenges at JMU and beyond.
• Transfer students, Molly Martineau, a junior psychology and religion major, and Jordan Parker, a junior English major, shared the ANTs’ Top 10 ways to get the most out of the JMU experience. They charged students to make connections, give back to the JMU and greater Harrisonburg communities, engage fully in academics and get involved.
• Transfer students, Luisa Burgos, a senior political science major, and Nick Guscott, a senior engineering major, discussed their transfer experiences and how the environment, people and opportunities for involvement at JMU contributed to their success and happiness at the university.

JMU celebrates the accomplishments and experiences transfer students bring to campus, and looks forward to their future contributions to the community.

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