Monika Jorde
STAFF WRITER
Cynthia Alvarado, a music major at San Jacinto College South, intends to come to the University of Houston in the fall. She wanted to know how her classes would transfer from the community college.
Margaret Smith worked as an executive secretary at UH 22 years ago and took several classes for business technology. Now that her son and her nephew are considering the UH program, she is thinking about taking up her education again in order to get a degree. She wanted to know what a second start at college would require in terms of time and money.
Louis Trevino, a Houston Community College Southeast student, learned that his two-year degree of Associate Arts will probably give him credit for only one year of classes instead of the expected two-year credit when transferring to UH. He wanted to speak to a UH counselor and to the department of his intended major to receive a detailed degree plan for his study.
The Transfer Preview at the University Center last Saturday gave each of them the opportunity to get the information they needed.
Transfer Preview is a campus open-house event that takes place once a semester and gives transfer students, adults and returning students basic information on enrollment and financial options at UH.
"The event is designed for community college students, for returning adult students and for anybody who wants to upgrade their education," Juan Gracia, manager of transfer and articulation, said.
"Each term we have as many transfer students (from other colleges) as we have freshmen. They all need to know about how their classes are going to transfer," he said.
"Adult students and non-traditional students need to know about on-campus childcare, evening classes, long distance education and the special programs we offer for adult and returning students."
"For many students coming from the suburbs or other states, it is just an experience to come to the University of Houston campus for the first time and to take their first steps in getting enrolled," Susan Zweig, director of admissions for recruitment, who helped start the transfer program 12 years ago, said.
As part of the event, information sessions were held on enrollment procedures and on college financing options. Afterward, campus tours were available to the visitors.
The different colleges and a variety of student services such as admission, career services and on-campus housing had information desks put out, and counselors were available for direct advising. Students from community colleges were offered the possibility to directly enroll at UH.
"I got more information than I expected," Sharon Tatuaca, a student from Houston Community College Central, said when she left the event packed with information brochures, application forms and video material.
"I got a specific degree plan for my intended major (mechanical engineering), and as the main thing I got contacts for scholarships and work-study options to finance my education."
The event is sponsored by the UH transfer and admissions offices. The next session is scheduled for Nov. 21.