The Transfer Connection
Greetings!
Research like the National Survey of Student Engagement, NSSE, tells us that engaged students are more successful and more satisfied. So what, exactly, does it mean to be an engaged student, or an engaged employee? Essentially, it means that you are committed to doing your best. It doesn't mean that you are the best, but that you are working toward becoming your best. You have probably been discouraged by people doing less than their best. It is even more important to expect the best from yourself while you are in college. After all, you are paying for the opportunity, so you want to get the most from it.
UNL students participate in NSSE as freshmen and as seniors. It shows that while transfer students generally match their peers in classroom engagement, they fall behind in measures of engagement outside of class. They tend to spend less time with professors or with other students outside of class than their peers, many of whom also live off campus. Transfer students are less likely to participate in campus activities. Essentially, they are not as engaged outside the classroom as their peers who started at the same institution.
The study does not tell us why there is a difference. It may have something to do with the number of terms students are enrolled. It may be a different outlook on the part of transfer students. Whatever the reason, you need to recognize that you are on campus for a shorter time than your peers who started here as freshmen. It takes a conscious effort on your part to be fully engaged outside of class as well as on those assignments and group projects for a grade.
The challenge--Attend a university event before the end of the semester. Ask a friend or classmate to join you. This calendar will help you find something you are interested in. Put it on your calendar like an assignment you give yourself. Then assign yourself an event next semester and it begins to become something you expect. If you need motivation remember employers want to hire people who are fully engaged.
http://events.unl.edu/2008/
OPPORTUNITIES
Demonstration of Chinese Painting, Calligraphy, and Seal Carving
November 11 - 16, Lentz Center, 1155 Q St.
Xu Yinsen, professor emeritus at the Chinese National Academy of Fine Arts, will demonstrate his skills in painting, calligraphy and seal carving this week at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Lentz Center for Asian Culture. The demonstration by Xu (pronounced shoo) will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 11-15 and 1:30-4 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Lentz Center.
http://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2008/11/11/Chinese+artist+to+present+demonstration+through+Nov.+16+at+Lentz+Center
Ethnic Studies Week
November 10 - 15 Check out this calendar for events. What could be easier than a free movie?
http://www.unl.edu/womenssp/events/calendar.shtml
State High School Volleyball Championships
November 13 - 15
http://www.nsaahome.org/
Schedule for Husker sporting events. Many are free for students.
http://www.huskers.com
Get involved. Meet people. Learn more!
JoAnn
JoAnn Moseman, M.A.
Academic Transfer Coordinator
Office of Undergraduate Studies
www.unl.edu/ous/student_programs/transfer.shtml
http://transition.unl.edu/
jmoseman2@unl.edu
