Banquet welcomes new transfers

Kayla Webley
2005-01-10
The Daily

After receiving letters of deferral from the UW last spring, 65 new transfer students gathered at a banquet in Kane Hall last night to receive a long-awaited welcoming to the UW.

President Emeritus Lee Huntsman, who gave the keynote address at the event, sat among students as they shared their frustrations and excitement about coming to the UW. Some transfer students who began their last two years of undergraduate study last week have been waiting six months to start at UW.

"There was one student I was talking to and she said it was hard to be deferred because she was so anxious to get here," said Huntsman.

More than 300 transfer students who applied for admission for autumn quarter 2004 received letters of acceptance, but for winter and spring quarters 2005.

"I applied for fall and got a letter that said, 'Sorry, it's full, but you can come maybe in the winter, but definitely in the spring,'" said transfer Virgil Reynolds. "It was really overwhelming; it is not really a hand-held process like it is at a community college."

According to Huntsman, the students at the banquet were some of the last few to come through under the direct transfer agreement, which assured community college students automatic admission to the UW provided they earned an Associate's Degree from a Washington State community college with a grade-point average of 2.75 or higher.

Manuel Barrientos, a transfer student from Bellevue Community College, said his wait for admission prepared him for the academic challenges the UW presents.

"I will say I was a bit disappointed [not to be admitted for the fall]," said Barrientos. "But it's a step up from community college, so I took a quarter off and rejuvenated myself to get ready to learn again."

The banquet room housed 12 tables, designated by department. Faculty and students from each respective major were in attendance to teach transfer students about the opportunities within their fields.

"I am from biology and so this was an opportunity for me to tell students about the biology club and the Friday Harbor labs ... things that aren't in the brochure," said Mary Pat Wenderoth, a senior lecturer in biology and one of the coordinators for the banquet.

In his address, Huntsman told students to take opportunities presented to them at the UW. He said he viewed the event as a way to help transfer students connect and adjust to their new school.

"This is part of a large effort to make students feel welcome. We all know this place is big and confusing, and this event reminds people how much help is available to students," said Huntsman. "Everyone has to get through the acclimation process and find their own path in this amazing place."