For the seventh consecutive year, Cal Poly Pomona (CPP), PolyTransfer, and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) celebrated National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) from Oct. 16-19. The week-long festivities honored and supported the university’s large transfer student population, which makes up 40 percent of the total undergraduate student body. For over a third of Broncos, the road to Cal Poly Pomona came with a transfer stop along the way. This tradition embraces the chance to celebrate these students’ resiliency and achievements while helping them feel at home within the Bronco herd.
First established in 2015 as a nationwide initiative, National Transfer Student Week recognizes transfer students’ achievements in higher education. CPP departments expanded the model by offering a full week of customized programming to celebrate and support transfer students.
Once again this year, the campus transformed into a week-long celebration dedicated entirely to transfer students. A jam-packed schedule of events aimed to highlight transfer students’ accomplishments, provide resources, and build community. Festivities ranged from fun social mixers to informative workshops. Programs strove to empower students to thrive after overcoming unique obstacles.
(NTSW Kick-Off Event hosted at University Park)
“This year my students and my goals were to create intention behind our events,” said Karen Barragan, ASI Bronco Events and Activities Team (BEAT) Student Activities and Civic Engagement Program Lead. “I wanted to focus on how we can better support and uplift this student population.”
With high energy throughout the week, National Transfer Student Week spotlighted transfer students as valued members of the Cal Poly Pomona family. By honoring their unique journeys and offering guidance, the university ensured new Broncos felt confident, supported, and prepared for success.
(Transfer students browse tables of free CPP merchandise and connect with campus organizations during NTSW festivities)
“Being a transfer student has allowed me to connect with students of all different backgrounds and circumstances and has allowed me to help students navigate their first year,” said Amber Pena, a former PolyTransfer mentor and transfer student.
The festivities were a collaboration between ASI and the PolyTransfer program. ASI coordinated social events, campus tours, and giveaways, while PolyTransfer hosted academic prep workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and transfer student panels.
(Art Social painting activity during NSTW at the Bronco Student Center)
The week kicked off on Monday with a lively Transfer Student Open House at the PolyTransfer Lounge, complete with freebies and snacks. Tuesday brought even more excitement with the NTSW Kick-Off at University Park and an online financial skills workshop.
Midweek offered connections and growth, with a breakfast mixer at the Womxn’s Resource Center for networking and professional headshots provided by ASI’s marketing department. Thursday featured a creative art social for painting and bonding, plus a football viewing party courtesy of Male Success Initiatives.
(Professional headshot photos taken for transfer students provided by ASI MDPR)
By celebrating transfer students’ accomplishments and offering support PolyTransfer and ASI helped ensure new students feel at home navigating the university’s large campus, rigorous academics, and busy student life. National Transfer Student Week reinforced that transfer students enrich the campus as valued members of the Bronco family.
“It made me feel appreciated and welcomed into the Cal Poly Pomona community,” said David Mendez, ASI BEAT Student Activities Assistant and transfer student. “I don’t feel as alienated when talking with other transfers who are going through the same process and feelings as me.”
(CPP students engage with PolyTransfer staff members during a lively discussion at the NTSW Kick-Off Event)
National Transfer Student Week festivities reverberated across Cal Poly Pomona this year, underscoring a clear message: transfer students are an invaluable part of the Bronco family. Their diverse backgrounds and perseverance in overcoming challenges enrich the entire campus community. As the celebrations drew to an uplifting close, transfer students were empowered to leverage their unique stories and experiences to help shape Cal Poly Pomona’s ongoing ascent. We remain dedicated to elevating transfer Broncos so their journeys can serve as springboards to success. With support and resources to aid their transition, transfer students contribute to and thrive within the Bronco herd.
What was your favorite event at National Transfer Student Week? Let us know on our social media @ASICPP on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok!
