{"id":71530,"date":"2025-10-20T08:01:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=71530"},"modified":"2025-10-24T13:44:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T17:44:04","slug":"game-on-utc-celebrates-transfer-student-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/game-on-utc-celebrates-transfer-student-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Game on: UTC celebrates Transfer Student Week\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Promotional<\/p>\n

Some of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga\u2019s most dedicated Mocs may not have started their journeys on UTC\u2019s campus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But after transferring, those students are part of a community that provides support to help every student feel at home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of this work, UTC\u2019s Student Success Programs is hosting <\/span>Transfer Student Week<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u2014taking place Oct. 20-24\u2014to help transfer students find community, chat with other transfers and explore campus resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a national event that takes place every year during the third week of October,\u201d said Melissa Laseter, working with Student Success Programs. \u201cLast year was the first time UTC participated, and we\u2019re using this year\u2019s celebration as a way to build momentum for even more support and engagement moving forward.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laseter said transfer students represent a growing population at UTC. <\/span>Historically<\/span>, many have not had access to the same big welcome experience that new first-year students receive when they arrive on campus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey know how to do college, but they don\u2019t know how to do it here,\u201d Laseter said. \u201cThey have a lot of knowledge, but not necessarily about this campus or what we do. And they don\u2019t necessarily want to do the same thing that an 18-year-old does when they get here as a freshman.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She said the goal of Transfer Student Week is to help students feel connected while recognizing that their needs and interests may differ from those of traditional first-year students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing transfer students need is belonging,\u201d Laseter said. \u201cDo I belong here on this campus? Do I belong in my major? Do I belong with these other students? If you feel like you\u2019re not being heard or seen, or left to figure things out on your own, you don\u2019t necessarily feel like you belong. We all need to feel connected, supported and valued.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Transfer Student Week is themed around gaming, including a \u201ccreate your own avatar\u201d kickoff event, a \u201cCoffee Chat\u201d with campus leaders and advisors, and \u201cTransfers Take Chattanooga<\/span>\u201d\u2014<\/span>a partnership with the UTC Aquatic and Recreation Center that offers a group bike ride along the Chattanooga Riverwalk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also doing a bingo card where students fill out at least so many things on their card,\u201d Laseter said. \u201cIt\u2019s not about having people run all over campus, but meeting some people, talking to somebody you don\u2019t know\u2014just finding ways to make sure they know that people care about them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laseter said Transfer Student Week is a starting point for what she hopes will become a larger mission to support this group throughout the entire school year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is tailored so much toward a brand-new student. We tend to think of college as 18 to 23, but that number is changing,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have to be willing to change with it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Transfer Student Week calendar:<\/h4>\n

Monday (Oct. <\/span>20<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n