Building bridges that help transfer students thrive at MSU

After graduating from high school, Joe Learman attended an academy in England to learn and play soccer before deciding to come home. A newly minted Spartan, Learman knows well the struggles and challenges of being a transfer student.

Several months into his first semester at Michigan State University and the transfer process continues for Learman, who is considering the pursuit of a degree in finance. The process to transfer credits from the English academy to MSU was a hurdle enough, but there are additional challenges that transfer students face.

It was his own experience that drove Learman to become a member of MSU’s Transfer Student Advisory Board, which is a diverse group of transfer students who advocate for fellow transfer students and help improve their experience coming to MSU. The advisory board works with the Transfer Student Success Center to ensure current and future transfer students feel supported and empowered.

“As a transfer student, it’s difficult enough to make that transition,” Learman said. “I’m fortunate enough to have been able to make the transition socially and academically, but I don’t know if everyone is in the same spot. If I can help other transfer students do that, I’d love to. That’s my goal.”

It was current and future transfer students like Learman who were celebrated during National Transfer Student Week, Oct. 20-24, which at MSU featured events and connection opportunities for MSU’s transfer student community and their supporters.

MSU continues to strengthen its support for transfer students. A nearly $1 million Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential grant will help MSU increase transfer student access and success and set the university on a path to becoming a premier transfer serving institution.

Since receiving the grant, MSU has been able to significantly reduce the time for transfer credit evaluation, while work continues to increase academic mapping and articulating the year-by-year plan for several degree pathways at MSU. A new podcast and newsletter have also been launched through the Transfer Student Success Center. Key transfer student engagement experiences, like the Transfer Experience Mentorship Program and the Transfer Student Advisory Board have also been enhanced.

“I’m motivated by the meaningful progress our teams have made on our MiLEAP grant goals, and even more excited about the impactful work still to come,” said Portia Watkins, assistant dean for Access, Transitions & Student Success, and MiLEAP grant lead. “As we move into next semester, we’ll continue deepening our engagement with MSU transfer students through connection opportunities, consistent communication and launching the first phase of a centralized transfer student resource website. These intentional efforts will help us better serve both prospective and current transfer students in lasting ways.”

The grant also supports Envision Green and increasing the number of students served and partner institutions. One of MSU’s most innovative transfer student initiatives, Envision Green was introduced in 2021 and provides Lansing Community College students assistance and support in their transfer to MSU.

Serving as a critical connection and pathway for many students, Envision Green offers bimonthly events, on-site academic advising and additional services designed to create a smooth transition for future Spartans.

Figuring out the finances of higher education and deciphering the “secret code” of academic language are among the biggest challenges transfer students face, said Muta Mutashobya, graduate program assistant for Envision Green.

To address financial confusion, credit transferring and other barriers transfer students face, Envision Green offers advising opportunities and hosts financial aid sessions for students planning to transfer to MSU. Envision Green also connects students with MSU on-campus resources ahead of their transition, including academic resources like the MSU Writing Center, as well as social and community resources like sports, clubs and the events at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts.

Connections with the MSU Career Services Network, Undergraduate Research, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, the Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students and the Student Parent and Caregivers Resource Center provide additional professional and support opportunities for transferring students.

“We want them to use their time here at LCC to better prepare for their transfer journey,” Mutashobya said.

Since the program increased staffing in fall 2023, Envision Green has helped more than 200 students make the transfer from LCC to MSU, with a 30% increase alone from fall 2024 to fall 2025. Additionally, there were more than 400 student attendees at Envision Green events and more than 300 advising engagements over the last year, illustrating the strong, continued interest and support of the program.

“We are excited to be able to provide academic, professional, social, and support connections to students as soon as they arrive at LCC,” said Laura Wise, Envision Green’s program director. “We are always looking for ways to improve our program and add resources, so this November, we launched the Envision Green Advisory Group with LCC to make the transfer journey from Stars to Spartan as smooth as possible. So far, we’ve been hearing from students as they transfer that Envision Green made a big difference in how they felt prepared and already connected to MSU before transferring or even that they would not be at MSU without the support from our program.”

MSU plans to expand Envision Green to additional community colleges across Michigan.

Learn more about the LCC and Envision Green partnership and how students can find their way to MSU.