USM Selected to Phi Theta Kappa’s Honor Roll for Third Year

Thu, 04/16/2020 - 04:50pm

For the third year in a row, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been selected for Phi Theta Kappa's (PTK) annual Excellence in Community College Transfer Honor Roll, one of 123 schools across the U.S. recognized for development of transfer pathways resulting in successful outcomes for community college transfer students.

Selection for the recognition is based on PTK’S Transfer Friendliness Rating in the Transfer Profile that schools create in PTK Connect, which is the organization’s online tool designed to help students find “best-fit” colleges and career pathways, among other benefits. With PTK Connect, students can research colleges by name, scholarship offerings, or cost, and use institutional profiles to determine their ultimate choice for the next step in pursuit of their undergraduate degree.

“The Transfer Honor Roll reflects the growing importance of recognizing and responding to the needs of transfer students,” PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said. “This award is given to four-year colleges and universities with proven outcomes for transfer success. They are the best at providing a supportive and smooth transition from community college — equating to increased rates of bachelor’s degree attainment for transfer students.”

Colleges utilizing PTK Connect can complete a Transfer Profile, which asks questions about admissions practices, cost of attendance, campus life, recruitment practices, and peer reviews. It is meant to reflect what the transfer student experience is like at their colleges, as well as the strategies colleges are taking to support and enroll transfer students.

The profile immediately gives colleges a Transfer Friendliness Rating they can use internally to gauge how friendly their admissions and recruitment strategies are. The top 25 percent highest-rated colleges are named to the Transfer Honor Roll.

“We’re honored to again be recognized by Phi Theta Kappa for the support we provide to our outstanding transfer students at Southern Miss. We take pride in our ‘transfer friendliness,’ which is reflected in our inclusion in their 2020 Transfer Honor Roll, and we’re happy to celebrate this honor with our many transfer students,” said USM Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dr. Amy Chasteen.

“We look forward to enhancing the support we offer our transfer students and welcoming them into the Golden Eagle family, and we’re grateful to Phi Theta Kappa for three years of recognition for our commitment to these students.”

Applications for inclusion on the PTK Honor Roll were judged based on engagement, collaboration, impact and achievements related to the transfer of community college students, as well as partnerships, support, admissions outreach, scholarships/financial aid, student engagement, opportunities and institutional priorities.

At USM, new transfer students are welcomed at its transfer events during Golden Eagle Welcome Week, and interact every month at its Transfer Tuesday programs, hosted by USM’s New Student and Retention Programs office. They are also invited to join its Transfer Student

Association and participate in its leadership, social, and educational events. Historically, nearly half of the university’s enrollment is composed of transfer students.

“Southern Miss has always been a destination for transfer students, and we are thrilled to be part of this prestigious group for a third consecutive year,” said Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions, Kate Howard. “It truly speaks to the transfer friendly nature of all our university has to offer.”

Community college students interested in pursuing their degree at USM should visit https://www.usm.edu/admissions/; PTK scholarships are also available at USM, learn more at https://www.usm.edu/undergraduate-scholarships/transfer-scholarships.php . For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at ptk.org.