For the first time in MSU’s history, transfer students were welcomed with a week dedicated entirely to them.

Transfer Student Welcome Week featured six events designed to connect new Mustangs with each other, introduce them to campus resources and celebrate the diverse journeys that led them here. From icebreakers to info sessions, the programming aimed to create not just a transition, but a true sense of belonging.

From Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, each academic college hosted its own event, giving transfer students the rare chance to meet their deans face-to-face and build one-on-one connections.

From pizza in the newly renovated Bolin Hall to fajitas at Fain, every gathering offered students the chance to not only ask questions, but also to feel seen and welcomed into their academic homes. Instead of large crowds, the smaller settings encouraged conversations that helped transfers start forming friendships and networks across campus.

For a Caribbean Transfer Student Jessica Ling, the first three weeks at MSU Texas have already been unlike her earlier college experience. Back home, she attended a small community-style institution where students earned associate degrees. There were few clubs, and even fewer chances to truly connect with peers outside of the classroom.

“That did not happen at all, you just went home,” Ling Said.

At MSU, however, she found herself stepping into a campus culture built on community.

She attended student government meetings, explored cultural organizations, and joined a mentorship program as a mentee to get guidance on navigating an unfamiliar environment.

Each step has helped her feel more like part of something larger than herself. “It really encourages community more and like, getting connected with people,” she said.

For Ling, that sense of belonging has been one of the biggest differences. It is proof that transfer students do not just slip into the background here but are given opportunities to take part in Mustang traditions from the start.

For Ecuadorian transfer Julian Meneses, Transfer Welcome Week created a rare and meaningful chance to connect.

“The fact that you can connect with the deans… it’s something really important. Deans are often busy and hard to reach.” He said.  Sitting down one-on-one gave him the opportunity to ask questions, hear advice, and feel supported in charting his academic path.

Beyond that, Julian valued how the events opened the door to conversations with fellow students. “You also get the opportunity to tell some jokes, talk with friends, so I think that’s something that has made me personally feel connected.” Meneses said.

Comparing his first year abroad to his fresh start at MSU Texas, Meneses noticed how much smoother the transition felt this time.

Already familiar with the college dynamic he could quickly dive into campus life, though he still sees areas where MSU could grow. He suggested hosting larger transfer-centered gatherings where students from across colleges could meet one another and called for clearer scholarship resources.

Meneses’s call for stronger resources highlights something many transfer students quietly face. This includes the feeling of navigating a new university without the same structured guidance first-year students receive.

Meneses pointed out how difficult it can be to locate scholarships or discover opportunities that are not immediately visible. This is where programs like Tau Sigma National Honor Society step in. Tau Sigma exists for one purpose: to recognize and uplift transfer students.

At MSU, students who transfer with at least one year of credits and then achieve either a 3.5 GPA or place in the top 20% of transfers during their first semester are invited to join.

Membership is more than a line on a résumé; it connects students to a national network of peers who share the same journey, while also offering scholarships, leadership opportunities, and service projects.

For many, it becomes a space where academic achievement is celebrated, but just as importantly, where the transfer identity is embraced rather than overlooked.

In addition to organizations like Tau Sigma, transfer students also have the option to participate in New Student Orientation (NSO) and Round Up, two programs at MSU that are often associated with first-year students.

For transfers, these events serve as an added gateway into the Mustang community.

NSO introduces students to campus resources, academic advising, and the traditions that define life at MSU, while Round Up brings students together in a celebratory setting filled with activities, games, and opportunities to meet peers across colleges.

Both programs are optional for transfers, but for many, attending even one of them can be a way to break the ice and start building friendships.

By participating, transfer students are not simply “catching up” with first-year students, they are stepping into the Mustang story on their own terms, they gain the same access to resources and traditions which shape the whole experience.

While the First-Year Mustangs Adventure (FMA) course was originally designed for first-year students, transfer students are also welcomed into the program as part of MSU’s commitment to helping every Mustang succeed.

Built around the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), FMA is a zero-credit hour seminar (MWSU 1230) that emphasizes both academic success and community engagement.

Each section, limited to about 20 students, is led by a trained Peer Educator alongside a faculty or staff mentor. Together, they guide students through activities in a customized “Mustangs Adventure Guidebook”, which focuses on goal setting, wellness, study strategies and self-reflection.

Beyond the classroom, students meet weekly with their Peer Educator to discuss challenges, progress, and resources, while also attending events that connect them with the wider MSU community.

For transfers, this program provides not only practical skills for managing their academic journey but also an important sense of belonging alongside their peers.

Coordinator of new student programs, Kelsey Defosse, created Transfer Student Welcome Week with one purpose in mind: to help every student feel seen, supported and part of something bigger.

Transfer students often arrive carrying stories of change, challenge and courage. This week reminds them they are not alone in their journey.

From connecting with peers and mentors to discovering the resources that will guide them through their academic path, each Mustang finds a sense of belonging and pride in their new home.

True to the motto, “Bold Path, One Herd” these students are reminded that no matter where their journey began, they now have a community that walks forward with them, ready to celebrate every success and lift them through every challenge.