The UNLV/CSN Transfer Office is shown here inside the Student Services center at the College of Southern Nevada’s Charleston campus on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 | 2 a.m.
UNLV and CSN officials unveiled a new partnership office on Tuesday that aims to help community college students transition to the university.
The UNLV/CSN Transfer Office — located in the student center on the College of Southern Nevada's Charleston campus — will be staffed with two UNLV "transition advisers." These counselors will help guide qualified CSN students through the UNLV admissions and transfer process.
Too often, moving from a two-year community college to a four-year university can be a complicated process, especially for first-generation college students and continuing education students juggling work and school.
These nontraditional and first-time students often face challenges navigating the bureaucracy. Many questions abound: Which college credits will transfer to the university? What courses do I take to prepare for university? How do I apply for financial aid?
"For a lot of students, it's hard to be motivated to chase all of this down," said Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Robert Blakely. "Many don't know what their next steps are. We want to take that barrier out."
The new transfer office will attempt to resolve those queries.
"It's a one-stop shop so transferring to UNLV will be a smooth and seamless process," said Carl Reiber, UNLV's vice provost for academic affairs.
The two UNLV transition advisers will work with CSN's academic counselors to ensure students don't take unnecessary courses for their associate's and bachelor's degrees. The advisers will also serve as the student liaison with UNLV's academic advisers, admissions counselors and financial aid officers.
The UNLV transfer office can also facilitate campus tours of UNLV and host workshops highlighting UNLV's various colleges, such as the hotel and engineering schools. The office will also collect data to identify where students struggle in the transfer process.
About 16 percent of CSN graduates end up transferring to a four-year college or university, said CSN spokeswoman K.C. Brekken. Most of these CSN transfer students end up attending UNLV.
Nearly 1,100 CSN students transferred to UNLV this past fall, a record high number since at least 2003, said UNLV spokesman Tony Allen.
Officials hope the new transfer office will help boost CSN's graduation/transfer rates, as well as UNLV's retention rates. UNLV officials are planning a similar transfer office at Nevada State College in the near future.
"We're excited about it," said CSN President Michael Richards. "This will really help a lot. It will allow our students to be successful."
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