From Transfer to Transformation

Your UMSI Journey Begins Here

Creating pathways that welcome every learner’s story.

For many students, the path to UMSI begins long before they ever set foot in a classroom. It starts with curiosity, questions, and the hope that a transfer could open new doors. On November 14, that hope brought students and staff from across the state to Palmer Commons for a day designed and led by Transfer and Access Recruitment Senior Coordinator Morgan DeAngelis and the Office of Organizational Culture and Community’s K–20 Educational Outreach Program Manager, Sandra Lopez. Together, the two offices shaped an experience that helped prospective transfer students envision what a future in information could look like.

Now in its second year, the event has grown in both scope and impact. This year’s Transfer Student Visit Day welcomed 30 students and two staff members for a full day of activities designed to prepare them for the transfer process. The schedule began with a welcome from Chief Administrative Officer Scott Staelgraeve, who is a former community college transfer student. Attendees enjoyed admission and financial aid overviews, a Central Campus tour led by student ambassadors, an overview of the Community College Summer Institute, a transfer student panel, and a UMSI-specific information fair. Representatives from UMSI student organizations Black@SI, the School of Information Bachelor’s Association, and Michigan Build and Launch also joined to share perspectives on student life and help future applicants imagine themselves as part of the UMSI community.

A highlight of the day was a lunch with alumni sponsored by the UMSI Development and Alumni Relations team. With support from Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Greg Powell, UMSI welcomed five alumni who shared their experiences in the BSI program and their careers in the information field. For many visiting students, these conversations were a standout moment, offering a chance to hear firsthand how a UMSI degree can shape professional pathways and open doors across industries.

Among the attendees were two students and one staff member from Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC), a tribal community college in the Keweenaw Peninsula. UMSI sponsored their participation to strengthen relationships with KBOCC and deepen connections with learners from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, many of whom face additional barriers to access due to distance and limited transportation options.

To further increase accessibility, UMSI provided transportation from Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and from the east side of the state, with a pickup location at Schoolcraft College. Many students utilized this shuttle service, while others opted to drive to campus. These efforts helped ensure that students from more distant institutions, as well as those balancing work and coursework, could fully participate. In addition to strong representation from GRCC and Schoolcraft College, attendees joined from Washtenaw Community College, Oakland Community College, Wayne County Community College District, Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan–Dearborn.

Events like this one are central to UMSI’s commitment to expanding access to information education across Michigan. By opening doors, building relationships, and supporting students at every stage of their journey, UMSI ensures that transfer students see not only a path forward but a place where they are welcomed, supported, and able to thrive.