Missouri State News

Save the Date for Upcoming Transfer Events

Our next on-campus transfer orientation will be on Thursday, August 13! This orientation is an optional experience for our incoming Fall 2026 transfer students. More information, including a schedule, will be made available soon and provided via email to incoming transfer students, as well as those listed on the Advisors for Transfer Students List.

Our next transfer social will be on Saturday, August 15, from 2:00PM – 3:00PM in the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center, as part of Welcome Week celebrations. Current and incoming transfer students are invited to attend.

Additional information for these events, and more, can be found on the @mostatetransfer Instagram page throughout the summer.

 

Transfer News

National Conference on Students in Transition

The National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition will be hosting a virtual conference September 30 – October 2, 2026. This conference will be focused on sharing the latest trends, initiatives, best practices, ideas, research, and assessment strategies focused on supporting student success in the first college year and beyond. They are now accepting conference proposals. Registration will open in late May.

National Conference on Students in Transition

 

Transfer Resources

Provost Dashboards

Are you interested in student data? The Office of Institutional Research has created several dashboards with real-time analytics in order to more rapidly and efficiently assist decision-makers. These dashboards provide information on enrollment, graduation rates, and more. Please reach out to InstitutionalResearch@MissouriState.edu with any questions you may have about the data provided in the dashboards.

Provost Dashboards

 

Transfer Advising Committee

The Transfer Advising Committee has representation from each academic college and works collaboratively to develop best practices for transfer advising, facilitate communication regarding transfer student issues, and offer professional development for transfer advisors. The minutes from the Transfer Advising Committee’s latest meeting can be found below.

Meeting 4 – April 22, 2026

 

 

This will be the last issue of the Transfer Advocate Blog for the 2025-2026 academic year. Next week, to celebrate Commencement, we will have one final post celebrating some of our graduating transfer students. The Academic Advising and Transfer Center wishes you a happy summer! If you have any questions on transfer topics, or would like to discuss ideas for future content and/or professional development, please feel free to reach out to TransferAdvisor@MissouriState.edu.

Missouri State News

Upgraded Transfer Orientation Now Available!

The online transfer orientation (required for incoming transfer students to complete prior to registering for their first semester of courses) has undergone several upgrades! The new orientation is housed in Brightspace. Students can access the orientation directly through Brightspace or by clicking the “Complete transfer orientation” link on the “Transfer To-Do List” card in their My Missouri State portal. The orientation features several modules, including “Technology Resources”, “Getting Registered”, “Money Matters”, and “Student Support”.

 

Transfer News

Learning Evaluation for the 21st Century

The Learning Evaluation and Recognition for the Next Generation (LEARN) Commission is a collaboration between the American Associate of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and Sova. Last week, the LEARN Commission released a report that identified 14 foundational recommendations to enhance transparency, consistency, timeliness, and learner outcomes in the learning evaluation process, encompassing traditional transfer, dual enrollment, credit for prior learning, and the utilization of technology and data. This work is part of the Beyond Transfer initiative. You can access the report by vising the link below.

Learning Evaluation for the 21st Century

 

Transfer Resources

Transfer Student Leadership Summit

The Transfer Year Experience (TYE) program at the University of Texas at Austin is excited to host the Transfer Student Leadership Summit April 7 – 8, 2026. There will be two webinars, from 1:00PM – 2:30PM on April 7 and April 8, providing an opportunity for colleges and universities to come together and discuss transfer student success. These webinars are free to attend, but registration is required.

Register for the Transfer Student Leadership Summit

 

Transfer Advising Committee

The Transfer Advising Committee has representation from each academic college and works collaboratively to develop best practices for transfer advising, facilitate communication regarding transfer student issues, and offer professional development for transfer advisors. The minutes from the Transfer Advising Committee’s latest meeting can be found below.

Meeting 3 – March 11, 2026.docx

Missouri State News

Curtis P. Lawrence Excellence in Advising Award Recipients Announced

Dr. Elizabeth King, Dr. Sarah Murray, and Jacob Clark will be recognized as the recipients of the 2026 Curtis P. Lawrence Excellence in Advising Awards at the Kathy J. Davis Master Advisor Reception on April 6, 2026, from 4-5 p.m. in the Union Club in Plaster Student Union. Each will be presented with a plaque and a $1500 award.

King is an associate professor in the School of Teaching, Learning, and Developmental Sciences.

Murray is an assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences.

Clark serves as an academic advisor I in the Education Advisement Center.

Each year, the university presents this award to one undergraduate faculty advisor, one undergraduate staff advisor, and one graduate advisor. The recipients of this award have demonstrated excellent advising to Missouri State students. Advisors are nominated by students, faculty, and staff. All nominees are given a chance to submit an application packet. A committee of past award recipients review and select the winners.

2026 Curtis P. Lawrence Excellence in Advising Awards Recipients

 

Transfer News

Spring 2026 Transfer Census Data

The Spring 2026 census arrived on February 17. Our top transfer institutions and top transfer programs for our Spring 2026 first-time transfer students are listed below.

Top Transfer Institutions for Spring 2026 First-Time Transfer Students: 1) Ozarks Technical Community College, 2) Missouri State University – West Plains, 3) Crowder College, 4) Evangel University, and 5) Saint Louis Community College.

Top Departments/Schools for Spring 2026 First-Time Transfer Students: 1) Nursing, 2) Psychology, 3) Finance, Economics, & Risk Management, 4) Childhood Education & Family Studies, and 5) the Pendleton Family School of Accountancy.

 

Transfer Resources

New Transfer Advising Committee Website

The Transfer Advising Committee is excited to announce that our website has been upgraded! The new website now features an updated committee charge and committee membership. We have also created a link to a Sharepoint site which features an archive of meeting minutes (linked in the section below) and a YouTube playlist of previously-recorded advisor forums related to transfer advising. You can visit the new website via the link below.

Transfer Advising Committee Website

 

Transfer Advising Committee

The Transfer Advising Committee has representation from each academic college and works collaboratively to develop best practices for transfer advising, facilitate communication regarding transfer student issues, and offer professional development for transfer advisors. The minutes from the Transfer Advising Committee’s latest meeting can be found below. (This information is only available to Missouri State faculty, staff, and students.)

February 2026 Transfer Advising Committee Meeting Minutes

Missouri State News

The Spring 2026 Advisor Forum Schedule is Available!

Please make plans to attend academic advisor forums in the Spring 2026 semester. All sessions except the Kathy J. Davis Master Advisor Reception count toward the three hours needed for annual renewal of Master Advisor designation. All faculty and staff are welcome, so please encourage colleagues to participate. Registration is strongly encouraged.

View the Spring 2026 advisor forum schedule and register today!

 

Transfer News

NISTS Joins the National Resource Center for First-Year Students and Students in Transition

Last month, we shared that the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) would be joining the National Resource Center for First-Year Students and Students in Transition (NRC), after a press release was issued on December 4. On January 28, NISTS and the NRC held a webinar where more information about the future of NISTS was shared. You can view that webinar at the link below.

NISTS and NRC Webinar

 

Transfer Resources

Register for the 2026 COTA Conference!

It’s not too late to register for the 2026 COTA Conference, held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Hilton – Garden Inn in Columbia, MO. This year’s theme is “Pathways Powered by Possibility: Innovation for Student Mobility”. Registration for the 2026 COTA Conference is now open.

2026 COTA Conference

 

Transfer Advising Committee

The Transfer Advising Committee has representation from each academic college and works collaboratively to develop best practices for transfer advising, facilitate communication regarding transfer student issues, and offer professional development for transfer advisors. The minutes from the Transfer Advising Committee’s latest meeting can be found below.

Transfer Advising Committee Minutes

Missouri State News

On-Campus Transfer Student Orientation

On Friday, January 9, 2026, Missouri State will hold an optional on-campus transfer student orientation for Spring 2026 transfer students. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with campus resources, meet fellow transfer Bears, and get ready for a successful transition to life at Mo State. This orientation does not replace the mandatory online transfer orientation required before students can register for classes. Additional information about the orientation, including the full schedule, can be found below.

Spring 2026 Orientation for Transfer Students

 

Transfer News

NISTS Update

The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) will live on! On December 4, an integration of NISTS and the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience and Students in Transition (NRC) was announced. This integration will take place throughout 2026. Additional details can be found in the press release below.

NISTS Press Release

 

Transfer Resources

Register for the 2026 COTA Conference!

The 2026 COTA Conference will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Hilton – Garden Inn in Columbia, MO. This year’s theme is “Pathways Powered by Possibility: Innovation for Student Mobility”. Registration for the 2026 COTA Conference is now open.

2026 COTA Conference

 

Transfer Advising Committee

The Transfer Advising Committee has representation from each academic college and works collaboratively to develop best practices for transfer advising, facilitate communication regarding transfer student issues, and offer professional development for transfer advisors. The minutes from the Transfer Advising Committee’s latest meeting can be found below.

Transfer Advising Committee Minutes