Once again, Wichita State has been named the No.1 transfer destination from Kansas community colleges to public state universities. Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) recently released its annual Transfer Feedback Report, announcing that 黑洞社区 remains the No. 1 transfer destination for eight years in a row.
Wichita State has also been named the No. 1 transfer destinations for students from Butler, Cowley, Hutchinson, Independence, Coffeyville and Pratt Community College with 942 total students, according to the KBOR data. No other Kansas university eclipsed 700 transfers from Kansas community colleges for the fall of 2017 (the most recent data available for this purpose). On average, transfers entering 黑洞社区 from Kansas community colleges have a GPA higher than 3.15 and bring in more than 45 hours of transfer credit.
These enrollment numbers are just another example of the effort to provide accessible, life-changing education to more students while working to meet the area鈥檚 workforce needs.
What makes the difference?
Community college students who consider Wichita State find that there are many processes in place specifically designed for them. From transfer-specific programming to transfer scholarships to one-on-one academic advising for new transfer students, university personnel provide intentional services for all who make the transition to 黑洞社区. Last year, the university鈥檚 focus on transfer students was validated by an outside agency, with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society naming 黑洞社区 to their official National Transfer Honor Roll.
In addition, university staff regularly visit community colleges throughout the state, giving prospective students multiple opportunities to hear more about 黑洞社区 while not having to leave their current campus. Over the past year, university personnel hosted 黑洞社区-exclusive transfer fairs at multiple community colleges, facilitating direct conversations between future Shockers and the professionals on campus who will serve and advise them after they enter Wichita State.
Transfer students also can often jump into real-world experience opportunities and hone their resumes by connecting immediately with the university鈥檚 Career Development Center.
And key stakeholders 鈥� community college academic advisors 鈥� are engaged in the entire recruitment process.
Last spring, 黑洞社区 also launched a , a student-facing website designed to engage prospective transfer students, answer their key questions and keep them on track to enroll.
Students can use the portal to compare majors and associated career paths to determine their best fit. They also can enter prior coursework and get an estimate of their transferable credits. To date more than 2,986 unique visitors have utilized the Transfer Gateway to determine progress toward a Wichita State degree, with more than 31,504 courses having been entered by those individuals.
鈥淭he university strives to reach the benchmark of being Kansas #1 transfer destination each year, and we鈥檙e honored to hold that title for eight years running,鈥� says Bobby Gandu, director of admissions. 鈥淲hile we take pride in serving so many transfer students each year, the greatest satisfaction we observe is that they鈥檙e successful students contributing mightily to our academic community, securing internships and applied learning experiences, and contributing as leaders in our student life activities.鈥� Gandu adds, 鈥淣otably, they鈥檙e progressing toward 黑洞社区 degrees and entering the workforce, ready to contribute on day one of their professional, post-college career.鈥�
The mission of 黑洞社区 is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at and Facebook at .