On Feb. 15, WCC hosted its first-ever UH Transfer Day. Representatives from the University of Hawai‘i’s four-year campuses–Mānoa, West O‘ahu and Hilo–as well as transfer counselors were in attendance to answer students’ questions on their next steps in higher education.
“This is the first time that we had a fair like this,” said Lauren Prepose-Forsen, a Ka‘ie‘ie program and transfer faculty specialist. “I know that Windward’s Student Life Office hosts a career and transfer fair every semester, but this one was planned more on a system level. So it’s a little bit more geared just on transfers and not so much career.”
The purpose of the fair was to connect representatives from the four-year campuses with students. Counselors also worked closely with attendees to help them understand program requirements and explore the different opportunities available.
“WCC transfers in 76 percent of the students that go to Mānoa from the community colleges,” said Prepose-Forsen. “So Windward has a pretty good transfer rate.”
Jennifer Naguwa, the assistant director of admissions at UH Hilo, told students about incentives for transfer.
“We are affordable, we are a small campus,” she said. “If you are looking for hands-on learning opportunities, we have a lot of that. It’s a home away from home. You can still see people that look like you, talk like you and eat the same foods as you.”
UH Hilo has the only college of pharmacy in the Pacific, an excellent nursing program, a strong college of Hawaiian language, a marine science and environmental science program, as well as kinesiology and exercise science.
WCC student Irma Roughhan, who plans to transfer after earning her associate’s degree, attended the event.
“They (the colleges) have a very broad spectrum of what things you can do, and they were just very helpful today,” Roughhan said. “I like the social sciences and social work one because I want to be a counselor, and that’s one of the best paths to take. They even gave me a list of contacts that I can talk to if I need help with how to transfer and choose a pathway.”
Nathan Runion, another student at the event, learned more about his career of choice.
“I’m going into Secondary Education with the eventual goal of getting a Master’s in Education,” Runion said. “I’m going to have to take some pretty high level classes. I’m a little nervous about that but I’m looking forward to the challenge. You know, a lot of people want to go into a specific career path but they don’t know exactly what prerequisites that they need. It was a good opportunity to come here.”
For more information on transferring to any UH campus, visit the WCC Counseling and Advising center on campus in Hale ‘Ākoakoa 212.
by Leighland Tagawa & Eliana Christianson
Ka ‘Ohana Editors in Chief
