In late March, transfer students participated in focus groups facilitated by the Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) and the Retention Leaders Council (RLC) to share their experiences at UNL.
Students shared that once they were connected with the right people, especially academic advisors, the transfer process felt relatively smooth and supportive. Advisors were consistently named as one of the strongest parts of the experience.
At the same time, we learned about challenges in the early stages of the UNL transition. Many shared that it can be difficult to find clear, centralized information about key next steps, including resources, deadlines, scholarships, tutoring, and ways to get involved on campus. Several noted that they often did not know what they were missing until much later in their time at UNL.
Students also shared that the first semester can feel isolating and that at times they were unclear about where to go for help or how to build community early on. Many said that earlier outreach, clearer step-by-step guidance, and more intentional connection to people and resources would have improved their experience.
Overall, students highlighted the strong support systems already available at UNL, and shared that earlier communication, clearer guidance, and more intentional connection points can help strengthen the transfer experience even further.
More details at: https://success.unl.edu/programs/transfer/