Editor’s note: This letter is in response to “Transferring credits a fickle enterprise,” published in the Oct. 22 issue of the Daily Lobo. The article reports on issues students experience when they transfer to UNM.
Editor,
On Oct. 22, Antonio Sanchez published an article in the Daily Lobo citing difficulties some UNM transfer students have encountered. Sanchez reported there are 1,300 undergraduate transfer students attending UNM this fall. I am one of those 1,300 transfer students.
Nothing was mentioned in the article about the positive experiences transfer students have had, so I would like to present just a few of the good experiences I have encountered and talk about those who made them happen.
I applied for admission to UNM in January of this year as a transfer student from Daytona State College in Florida. Along with my application form, I sent my transcripts. Two weeks later, I received my acceptance letter and was to begin my first semester in the summer session.
I was unable to start at that time due to my father’s illness and then his passing away. In July, I received a phone call from Jonathon in the admissions department. He encouraged me to “get started as soon as possible” and directed me to meet with an adviser. I can’t tell you how much his phone call meant to me, considering the circumstances.
Two weeks later, I was sitting in student adviser Mary Lou Wilkerson’s office, and not only did she outline step by step what I needed to do to complete my undergraduate degree, but she also took the time to help me sign up for my classes. When I had specific questions concerning the courses I needed for my undergraduate studies, Wilkerson directed me to the appropriate departments.
First, when I arrived at the psychology department, I found that the student adviser had resigned, but the receptionist was helpful and gave me the course requirements. Next, I went to the Communication and Journalism Department to schedule my appointment with an adviser. Fortunately, I was able to get in that very day and met with Gregoria Arienda Cavazos. Let me tell you, she knows her stuff, and had me on track lickety-split.
Last but not least, let me tell you about student adviser Gary Allison. That man is an expert. You can ask him anything and he has the answer for you, like it or not. Yes, that is what I said.
Just like the transfer student mentioned in the article who was upset that “a few credits she earned couldn’t be used for credit when she transferred,” a lot of my credit could not be used because my major was no longer the same and this was clearly explained to me by both Wilkerson and Allison. Not only did I accept this, I also understood why that is.
As recently as Thursday, I sat in student adviser Allison’s office to go over my LoboTrax and make certain I was on course. When I asked him about some of the issues students were complaining about, he respectfully replied, “We try our best to help our students and make them aware, but some of them just don’t hear it.”
When I read Sanchez’s article, I asked, “How much of this situation is UNM’s fault, and how much is it the student’s?” After all, as students, aren’t we responsible for making sure we are on track?
Sheryl Brooks
UNM student
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
