The West Fresno Center had their very first Transfer Tuesday on Aug. 26 where students were able to ask transfer questions at a booth set up from 8:30 a.m. to noon in front of the student service building.

The Transfer Coordinator, Jessica Shadrick, was the assigned counselor students were able to meet with. Transfer Tuesdays started three years ago when she became the transfer coordinator.

The booth has changed locations throughout the years, varying the amount of students that typically stop by.

“It just depends on the given day, the first year we were in Math, Science, Engineering, [buildings] and we got a lot of students that came through. The next year we were in Business [building] and got quite a lot of students as well, and now this year we’re in front of the student services [building] and now West Fresno,” Shadrick said.

In the four hours that the booth is out, transfer counselors typically help around 20-25 students.

“It is just one transfer counselor to then provide information about transferring to any students, even those that have not even thought about transferring,” Shadrick said. “We want to expose them to transferring.”

By moving resources from inside to outside of the office, more students have the opportunity to stop by and ask questions they need answered. 

“We want to be visible,” Shadrick added. 

Vardaanvir Kaur, a first semester student at the West Fresno Center, stated that the booth gave her “a lot of information,” and that it was so helpful. 

“She suggested to us what colleges to apply for. After I earn a degree, if we want to get into our programs and colleges, she said it is great to apply to many and not one,” Khushpreet Brar, a pre-allied health major said.

According to Shadrick, many of the students that stop by are generally interested in California schools like Fresno State, University of Merced, Davis, University of Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley and more. 

“I think it is important for community college students to have resources related to transferring in general like understanding the timeline about when they need to transfer, exposing them to the possibilities of what a transfer does for students,” Shadrick said.

Manmeet Randhawa, a prospective transfer student interested in Fresno State, says she had a meeting with her counselor a few weeks ago.

“I think they (transfer booths) are amazing, helping people,” Randhawa says. 

The transfer process consists of ensuring specific courses and major requirements are met, building a resume for college applications, and being on top of grades. This transfer resource is intended to not only guide students but also keep them motivated in their journey. 

“I always remember that I was a first generation college student, my parents didn’t go to college and they didn’t know how to communicate to me about college. So, even if our students are here at the California Community College, we can’t assume that they know how to get to the next level,” Shadrick said.

Now that the West Fresno center has first opened up their Transfer Tuesdays, more students can expect to receive help without any placed limitations on accessibility. Transfer Tuesdays end Dec. 9 for the fall semester. 

“For me, it’s not only my passion to provide students information but I think it’s our due diligence as an institution to provide them with exposure to events and to show them that they can do it, that they can see themselves getting their bachelors degree,” Shadrick said.