Moving to a new place can be difficult for incoming Ohio State students. Acclimating to an entirely new university on top of that can seem even more daunting. A new program aims to alleviate some of the pressures that come with changing schools. 

The College of Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Recruitment (OUR) houses the TransPort Program, which is designed to help first-semester transfer students acclimate to their new college environment. The program connects incoming transfer students with current Ohio State students who serve as peer mentors and unofficial support system as the transfer students navigate their first semester on the Columbus campus.

“Students want to know what resources are accessible to them upon immediate entry,” said Angelett Anderson, program manager at OUR. “Some of them are coming from smaller institutions and they're a little nervous about the transfer into a big institution, such as Ohio State. So they're looking for that connectedness.”

Anderson added that organizations with academic and career focuses are primarily where most students start when it comes to getting involved on campus. However, TransPort is also there to help students who are looking to get involved in other areas of campus, such as club sports or other recreational activities. While university offices can provide lists of student organizations and general guidance on which could be a good fit, having a peer mentor with similar interests who can make introductions at that first group meeting is a great way to overcome the initial anxiety of meeting new people.

“I think that students are looking to feel like they're a part of the community,” she said. “Feeling like an outsider tends to be the biggest concern that we get. Fortunately, there are literally hundreds of student orgs that they can be participating in to build their Ohio State experience.”

Connecting with student ambassadors can also provide first-semester transfers with a different perspective on campus life and advise them on how to navigate everything from academic services such as tutoring and study abroad opportunities to finding the best places to eat on campus and spaces to meet new friends.

“Student ambassadors know the university in a different capacity than we do as staff and faculty,” Anderson said. “Student ambassadors oftentimes share their phone numbers, email addresses and invite new students to their student organizations where they share their experiences.”

Students that are transferring to the Columbus campus from an Ohio State regional campus have access to different services. Campus Change, a separate Ohio State endeavor from TransPort, is meant to assist actively enrolled regional campus students who are already familiar with many Ohio State student services and help them in their transition to the Columbus campus. 

“We don't want to minimize their existing experience as an Ohio State student,” Anderson said. 

While the TransPort Program is still in its infancy, Anderson said her goal is to continue to grow to the point where TransPort alumni become its student ambassadors. Current ambassadors are also heavily involved in College of Arts and Sciences recruitment, but may not have been transfer students themselves.

“I think in terms of community, it would be extremely helpful if the program was built with a strong number of students who matriculated through the program, benefited from the program and had a successful transfer to Ohio State. Those students can then help future students through their transfer experience through shared experiences.”