by Kristen Dow
Staff Writer
Informing transfer students of the services available was the main objective of the Career Development Center’s Transfer Student Open House which was held last Friday, Sept. 20.
Terrie Lopez, director of career development and placement, said the Career Development Center decided to sponsor the open house because, unlike freshmen, transfer students are not enrolled in a University 100 class, and therefore do not have the opportunity to have a full tour of the center.
“We’re trying to reach more students and encourage them to come in before they need us,” said Lopez.
She also said the center wanted to make transfers aware that they can help students find off campus part time jobs, offer job placement assistance, help with resume writing and also identify what kind of employers the students want to work with.
The Career Development Center sent out 50 invitations to transfer students over the summer informing them of the open house, and also contacted them once school began. Although only a few students attended the open house this year, Lopez is determined to try again next year with the hope that it will be more successful.
Aaron Carlin, a junior who transferred from Monterey Peninsula College, was one of the few students who attended the open house.
He said of the University of La Verne, “It just appealed to me in comparison to other colleges I applied to.”
One of the reasons junior criminology major Kimbley Craig came to the University was because of the beauty of the campus, but said the main reason she came to ULV was because of the personal attention she received.
“La Verne always hand signed letters,” said Craig. “They were wonderful when I came to visit.”
Craig attended the open house to find out more information about the services they offer.
“I’m interested in the internship program. It’s a strong start in getting a job after college,” she said.
This year the University of La Verne has seen a slight increase in its number of transfer students, which differs from the current trend in the rest of the country. According to K. Douglas Wible, director of admissions, many other colleges ULV competes with have lower numbers of transfer students this year.
Wible attributes the jump in numbers to the many community colleges that are close to ULV, such as Mt. San Antonio College, Chaffey College, Citrus College and Pasadena City College.
Wibel also said the University of La Verne offers more personal attention to its students in comparison with state colleges in the surrounding areas.
“We spend a lot of time on community college campuses,” said Wible. “We visit local feeder colleges twice a semester in their transfer offices. Students are aware of what La Verne offers.”
