Easing the transition between schools

By Mandy Pascal

Students may think it will be difficult to transfer from another college, but Troy University makes the transition easier.

“I decided to transfer from the University of West Florida but did not do any research before I made my decision, so some of my credits did not transfer,” said Kally Peace, who was in her fourth semester of nursing in the spring and is from Niceville, Fla.

While at West Florida, she was taking classes that she thought she needed, but the curriculum and requirements for the nursing program were different at Troy.  She worked closely with Troy’s Records office, and most of her credits eventually transferred.

‘The right decision’

“Everything wound up working out, and I only had to repeat one class to receive credit,” she said.

“Troy was great to work with me and get everything straightened out.  Because of this, I know I made the right decision by coming to school here.”

According to Kimberly-Brinkley Jones, the director of institutional research in the Records office, this campus has about 7,000 students, and nearly 25 percent have transferred from other schools.

Will all of my credits transfer?  Will I make any new friends?  How in the world am I going to learn my way around another university? These are questions that transfer students often have.

Troy has a list on its website (trojan.troy.edu/records/credit_listings.html) of two-year community and technical colleges, as well as four-year colleges and universities, that tells what credits will and will not transfer.

Some transfers may require a grade of “C” or higher. Information can be found in the Troy academic catalog given to students during IMPACT orientation.  This catalog contains every major and minor offered at Troy University and lists what classes are required to complete them.

Troy University is the manager of the Statewide Transfer and Articulation Reporting System, known as STARS. This is a guide that shows all the classes that are guaranteed to transfer from other public colleges in Alabama.

STARS contract

The executive director of the articulation and general studies committee and STARS, Keith Sessions, said that when a student transfers from another college, the student is encouraged to sign a STARS contract upon enrollment.

This contract is a statewide transfer agreement that says no matter where you are enrolled, or have previously been enrolled, you will be protected under this contract.

For more information about STARS, visit stars.troy.edu/stars.html. If you have a problem with credits not transferring, go to the Records office, located in Adams Administration building.

Transferring to a new school isn’t all about the academics and technical matters.  It is also important to find your niche and make friends.  Joining one of the many organizations on Troy’s campus is one way to get involved quickly.

Troy University has a multitude of on-campus organizations for students to get involved with, from religious groups, to the swing dance club, to Habitat for Humanity.

Meeting people

Calvin Mulkey, an elementary education major from Florence who was a senior in the spring, transferred from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.  He did what a lot of transfer students do when trying to get involved: he went Greek.

“When I first came to Troy, I did not know many people,” Mulkey said.  “I knew if I did not force myself to get involved, the next three years would be no fun at all.”

Mulkey became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha in spring 2011 and has been involved on campus ever since.

For example, Mulkey has served as the president of the Association for Childhood Education, worked alongside his brothers with the March of Dimes foundation, and volunteered as a tutor for elementary school children around Pike County.