Transitions
“Transitions”, ESF’s Transfer Experience Program is a comprehensive initiative to assist transfer students in their adjustment to and success at ESF. The following points are the tenants on which this program is built:
- Increasing student-to-student interaction;
- Increasing faculty-to-student interaction;
- Increasing student involvement and time on campus;
- Linking the curriculum and co-curriculum; and
- Increasing expectations and levels of academic engagement;
- Assisting in the transition from previous college experience to new (ESF) college experience.
Transitions: ESF’s Transfer Student Experience
Programmatic Initiatives
New Student Orientation
ESF provides all new students with programs designed to facilitate a successful transition to college life and further acquaint them and their families with the ESF community. The orientation program is required for all entering transfer students and focuses on academic, social, and financial matters.
ESF 332
ESF 332 is an orientation course for all transfer students. ESF 332 is designed to introduce students to their field of study and to ease their transition to ESF.
Student-to-Student Mentors
This program links eligible transfer students and returning ESF students in a mentoring relationship. 
Student-to-Student Mentors help new transfer students adapt to the ESF community through informal interactions and by sharing their best tips for academic and personal success.
Learning Communities
Research has indicated that students involved in this unique living/learning environment reap additional benefits of support and sucess. Syracuse University’s Office of Residence Life provides an opportunity for ESF transfer students to be involved in a variety of learning communities. Transfer students can choose from a number of unique communities, each offering in-depth interaction and out-of-class experiences. For information regarding Syracuse Learning Communities please visit the LC website at http://lc.syr.edu/which.html.
Alcohol & Other Drug Awareness
The Alcohol and Other Drugs Awareness Action Plan is intended to articulate and maintain ESF expectations regarding student use of alcohol and other drugs. This plan encourages abstinence and healthy choices regarding alcohol and other drugs by creating a positive living and learning experience for students.
Community Service Projects/ Service Learning
ESF’s commitment to service is best exemplified through student participation. More than 1100 ESF students, contribute 50,000 + hours of service to the community each academic year. These hours of contributed service are facilitated through service-learning courses and student organization and individual participation.
Student Organization Involvement
Research has proven that students who get involved stay enrolled. Beginning with our annual activities fair in the fall semester, students will be made aware of and encouraged to participate in student organizations and activities.
Diversity Awareness and Training
In order to fully meet the needs of students, institutions of higher education not only must develop a variety of specialized and targeted approaches for special populations, but also promote and develop programs that educate all students about race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, etc. With the support of the student-to-student mentoring program, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the continued development of educational programming on historical implications and present day awareness, students will be provided with opportunities to work toward building respect for themselves and others, thereby strengthening the community in which we all work and live.