This year’s Bakersfield College Transfer Day was the most successful so far in terms of BC student turnout, college and university attendance and extending the event from one day to a week.
The event took place in the Campus Center Fireside Room and at tables set up in the cafeteria.
Sue Granger-Dickson, articulation officer and Transfer Center coordinator, was a forerunner of the event by publicizing through more outlets than used before. This is one of the reasons for the increase in the number of students and colleges present.
Granger-Dickson spoke about the low rate in transfers from BC to universities of California. According to the California Community College Transfers by Campus to State University System statistics sheet, BC is 69th out of 111 community colleges in students transferring to four-year institutions in the state.
“I want to see us on the top 50 list instead,” Granger-Dickson said. “This transfer day enables us to provide students who are almost finished with their degrees, the information they will need to choose and enroll in a program for their bachelor’s degree.
“The amount of BA degrees received plays a large role in this recession because the future employees do not possess the skills and training needed to work in the upcoming field of jobs, so that’s why our goal is making the transition to a four-year or university easier for students,” she stated.
The extension of Transfer Day came about because Granger-Dickson wanted to be able to reach even more students that attend night school and who want
more experience in enrolling and filling out applications by attending workshops that are a part of transfer week.
More state and out-of-state schools have been interested in enrolling BC students because of the excellent training and experience they demonstrated at their four-year school.
Granger-Dickson said, “It’s becoming more of a trend with out-of-state colleges like Oklahoma State University and Arizona State, including places like the San Francisco Art Institute.
“There was even a booth for Alaska here because of the previous students that the college has encountered,” Granger-Dickson said.
A few students found what they were looking for at the booths Sept. 12.
“I went to about four different booths, Devry University, Santa Barbara, one I can’t remember and Fresno State, which Fresno caught my attention. They have programs that that are directly linked to the field I want to get into,” said Dominique Slain, 27, criminal justice major.
She grabbed some forms and information, asked a couple of questions, and left because she was in class and going to the booths was their class assignment.
Some of the colleges in attendance, such as UC Davis, have veteran representatives. Jacquelyn Ross, assistant director of undergraduate admission, comes almost every year because she enjoys informing students of why UC Davis is a great choice for transferring.
“We come out to talk to BC students who want information on how to be in the best position for their future,” Ross said. “The most common question students ask are about requirements and transferrable units from BC.”