Participants receive personalized transfer support with campus tours, academic meetings, transfer credit analysis
The University of Central Arkansas is hosting a series of Transfer Friday events this spring to provide prospective transfer students with personalized guidance and a clear pathway to degree completion.
“We’ve welcomed nearly 700 new transfer students this year,” Kevin Thomas, vice president of Enrollment Services & Student Success, said. “These are students who started their journey elsewhere and chose UCA to finish their educational pursuits.
“Transfer Friday exists because we know walking onto a new campus with questions about credits, costs and timeliness can be stressful. We want every student to leave that day with answers, not anxiety.”
At Transfer Friday, students can explore campus, meet with faculty in their intended major, learn about scholarship opportunities and financial aid, review housing options, and have a one-on-one meeting with a transfer advisor. The event is open to students currently enrolled at two-year and four-year institutions, as well as returning students looking to complete a degree.
UCA invites students to join a Transfer Friday event on Feb. 27, March 13, March 20, April 10 or April 17. Registration is required at uca.edu/go/transferfridays.
UCA has built a comprehensive transfer support system, including 475 active 2+2 Transfer Agreements with Arkansas community college partners. These agreements provide students with easy-to-follow academic checklists that map a direct pathway from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree.
“We’ve removed the guesswork,” Brian Corbin, director of Online, Transfer & Returning Student Services, said. “These roadmaps allow students to complete their degrees efficiently and cost-effectively while ensuring their coursework transfers seamlessly.”
UCA’s Bear Partners program further strengthens the transfer pipeline. The program allows students attending Arkansas State University-Beebe, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton and University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College to receive a free UCA ID card while completing their associate degree. The card provides free admission to UCA athletic events and Reynolds Performance Hall performances, as well as access to UCA library resources. Additionally, participants are eligible for a Bear Partner scholarship.
Since its inception, more than 1,300 prospective transfer students have been admitted to the Bear Partners program and benefited from early engagement with the university community.
“Our 2+2 agreements, Bear Partners program and Transfer Friday events demonstrate our commitment to student success at every stage,” Corbin said. “At Transfer Friday, students leave with clarity – they will understand how their credits apply, what their next steps are and how quickly they can move toward graduation.”
More information is available at uca.edu/go/transferfridays.