Americus, Ga.—Bainbridge College (BC) Vice President of Academic Affairs Mariam Dittmann, Ph.D. and director of Admissions and Records, and BC/GSW Programs Coordinator Connie Snyder met at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in September to discuss transfer students.

Along with officials from seven other two-year colleges within the University System of Georgia and representatives from GSW, the group discussed strategies Southwestern can employ to attract transfer students from each two-year institution.

“We at GSW are excited to be working at developing closer ties with our two-year partners,” said GSW Vice President of Academic Affairs Brian U. Adler, Ph.D. “Meetings such as we just had are extremely important in helping to establish bonds and strengthen relationships between our institutions, as well as offering all of us an opportunity to share ideas and discuss challenges. In particular, we recognize the special challenges and opportunities that transfer students bring with them.”

In all, eight Georgia two-year colleges were represented: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Atlanta Metropolitan College, Bainbridge College, East Georgia College, Georgia Perimeter College, Middle Georgia College, South Georgia College and Waycross College.

Georgia Southwestern currently has two bachelor degrees available on site at Bainbridge College, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. These collaborative degrees have already paid dividends. As of Sept. 15, 2008, 18 BC transfer students are enrolled at GSW.

“We at GSW are developing a set of skills geared specifically toward the transfer student,” said Adler. “Issues of access and student success go hand in hand; with the help of our two-year partners we intend to offer easy and seamless access for our transfer students, and we fully intend to support them in critical ways so that they successfully graduate in a reasonable length of time.”

Georgia Southwestern is on pace to reach a record enrollment for Fall 2008. This growth is due in large part to its initiative to become the comprehensive university in the state that is known for understanding the needs of transfer students.