The word is out about record-growth at Ancilla College and 19 colleges and universities are on board, turning out for a transfer fair Wednesday, April 27.
Brian Welch, Ancilla associate dean of student success and retention, explained the fair kicks off Ancilla’s transfer pathway program to any of the 19 colleges and universities in attendance.
“We’re making it a real easy, smooth transition right from the get-go,” he said. “What we do is we give Ancilla students that great personal connection and the tool sets to succeed at a four-year institution.”
“Working with Ancilla advising staff, we’ll transfer our graduates over so it won’t be a waste of their time and money,” he said.
Emily Robinson, transfer counselor from Butler University, explained that Ancilla students with a 2.5 GPA are welcome at Butler and 100-level credits are accepted with C- or higher.
“We love accepting students from junior colleges. It’s a good fit for them to knock out a lot of those general education courses initially and then specialize in their major at Butler,” she said, noting that the small class size and personal attention at Butler “mirrors” Ancilla and makes for a good fit.
Caylee Gee, a senior LaVille High School was checking out the Goshen College table because she is interested in staying close to home for her first two years of college but then maybe transferring to a four-year school.
“I think it’d be better to start closer and then transfer out,” she said. “I’m really close to my family.”
Brandi Chancey, on hand representing Manchester University said, “We saw more students and talked to more students than any other transfer day event we have attended in the past.”
Tim McLochlin, director of agriculture at Ancilla, brought a group of high school students interested in the Ancilla agriculture program to the transfer fair to give them an idea about their opportunities starting at Ancilla and then transferring, saving money.
“Ancilla is probably one of the fastest growing colleges in Indiana. Lots of new programs, lots of opportunities,” he said. “Agriculture at Ancilla is brand new and, with that, comes all kinds of options for our students. We’re going to have all kinds of leadership programs, judging teams, community service and a collegiate FFA chapter.”
Dustin Kerckhove, a John Glenn High School senior who is enrolled at Ancilla for fall 2016, said he attended the fair because he wants to double major in agriculture and business at Ancilla and then transfer out.
“It’s a nice college. I love the campus. It’s nice and small; it’s not too expensive. It’s a nice place to start out,” he said. He said he wants to transfer to Purdue University after two years. For now, he said, “I don’t like the big campus (at Purdue) and it’s a little expensive.”
Riley said, “The Transfer Fair is one of several key elements in providing for a smooth transition from a two-year degree to the baccalaureate. The strong collaborative relationships we have established will go a long way to assisting our students in making the transition.”
Colleges at the Transfer Fair:
- Dominican University
- Trine University
- Huntington University
- St. Joseph’s College
- Holy Cross College
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Purdue University
- University of Evansville
- Saint Mary’s College – Notre Dame, IN
- Butler University
- Valparaiso University
- Aquinas College
- Western Governor’s University
- University of St. Francis
- Indiana University South Bend
- Grace College
- Indiana Technical Institute
- Goshen College
- Manchester University
