Students transferring into Cal Poly Pomona this fall are getting more help making the transition to the campus.

The new, university-wide PolyTransfer program will provide transfer students with a variety of workshops throughout the year to help make the transition to Cal Poly Pomona by encouraging academic success and engagement in campus activities.

In addition, the students will have opportunities to have peer mentors who have successfully made the same transition.

"Cal Poly Pomona recognizes its large transfer student population and wants to do everything it can to support it," says Professor Terri Gomez, chair of the ethnic and women's studies department and head of the PolyTransfer program. "These programs will help them develop as students and leaders in our community."

As a former community college transfer student, Gomez has first-hand experience in making the transition.

Transfer student enrollment numbers have increased over the years and are expected to continue growing. Last fall, transfer students accounted for 44 percent of new enrollees last fall at Cal Poly Pomona.

PolyTransfer is one of the first programs of its kind in the CSU and is funded in part by an Academic and Student Success Grant from the chancellor's office. The divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs are collaborating to put on the program.

In late August, PolyTransfer put on a free, three-day summer program for transfer students that included workshops on academics, financial literacy, utilizing the Career Center, and introducing students to the research resources and Cultural Centers.

The program also will offer peer mentoring and additional workshops throughout the academic year. For the fall, the mixer will be in the Bronco Student Center Ursa Major on Tuesday, Oct. 21, during U-Hour. The first Transfer Academy will be in the old Bronco Fitness Center at the Bronco Student Center on Saturday, Nov. 15; it will focus on making the transition into CPP.

The PolyTransfer office is at Building 94, Room 275, and can be contacted at polytransfer@cpp.edu.