ACTC’s first transfer fair a success
ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community and Technical College held a four-day Transfer Fair last week, allowing current students to meet with representatives from regional universities.
Each day, different representatives gave presentations about their colleges/offerings, and spoke with students one-on-one at informational tables, allowing students to learn more about the respective institutions.
“This format provided students greater access, regardless of their class schedules, and the individual partners could be showcased,” said Megan Horne, Director of Student Support Services. “The presentations allowed students and advisors to get more in-depth, meaningful information about the individual schools.”
Around 75 students attended the fair over the course of the four days.
“Each day, student participation in the fair grew and gave us the opportunity to interact with students in a different capacity, especially when they attended more than one function of the event,” Horne said. “We were really astounded by how many of our transfer partners were eager to make the drive to our campus, even though some were from 3-4 hours away. We were so grateful for their interest and participation – and they seemed equally pleased with our student engagement.”
Representatives from the University of Kentucky, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Campbellsville University, Northern Kentucky University, Berea College, Bellevue University, Western Kentucky University, Midway University, Ohio University Southern, University of Louisville, Georgetown College, University of the Cumberlands, Indiana Tech, Shawnee State University, University of Pikeville, Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University were all attendance.
“While not every student will choose to transfer once they have completed their education at ACTC, so many students ultimately do and we know the earlier they start planning, the more efficient they can be with their own time and money,” said Horne.
She added, “Similarly, we know that some students have a fixed idea on their preferred transfer institution when they enter ACTC, but so many change their minds when they begin comparing costs, programs, institutional features or even visiting the university’s campus for the first time. While the goal is not to merely change students’ minds, we do hope to empower them to be informed consumers of educational opportunities.”
Horne says plans are in the works to host a similar event in the spring at ACTC’s Technology Drive Campus focused on technical/STEM programs.
Steve Woodburn, Chief Student Affairs Officer, expressed his appreciation of ACTC’s transfer staff for making the event a success.
“I am so proud of the effort that Megan Horne, Jennifer Allen, and Orlando Currie, along with many others put into making this first ever event a success at ACTC. The outcomes are many. It helped us reconnect with our transfer partners, explore better ways to emphasize the importance of our transfer initiatives and to help our students begin to lay the groundwork to their next academic path after completing at ACTC,” Woodburn said.
