Credits can be the difference between thousands of dollars.
They determine where students live, when they will graduate – and for transfer students, can be a significant hurdle when choosing a new school.
The TU registrar helps students make the process as smooth as possible. They review the credits, considering which classes might match up with Taylor classes. They also send course descriptions to department chairs to determine whether a class is equivalent.
They want students to be able to move forward in their education while still considering the integrity of a Taylor University degree.
Cindy Ruder, registrar operations specialist is one of the first people transfer students encounter on their journey. She runs a transfer credit evaluation based on the course of study they want to pursue.
“Students get frustrated from the fact that we don't maybe have a course equivalent,” Ruder said. “I always let them know we can bring it in for transfer credit, but we always have to be cognizant of the importance of making sure they don't hit that 160 credit hour limit that Taylor has. Possibly – and I always say possible because they never know – but it may affect their financial aid.”
They handle the credits on a case-by-case basis. A student may come in with classes that don’t have an equivalent at Taylor. They try to align credits with the core curriculum and the student’s field of study.
Freshman Bailey Robinson, a transfer form Gordon College, met with the registrar and his guidance counselors to align his schedule with what was best for him. He had experience in the military, so Angi Long, Taylor University registrar, helped him ascertain how to get his “prior learning” to count towards his credits at Taylor.
Because Taylor is a yellow ribbon school, Long could attribute Roginson’s learning to specific courses at Tayor. As a yellow ribbon school, Taylor can work with the government to provide financial aid and benefits to veterans.
The Registrar’s Office Staff are there for students, ready to help. If students have questions about which credits they can transfer, they can contact the registrar office. Robinson recommended that students initiate a meeting with their counselors, even if it is not required.
Many students attend Taylor because of its intentional community. Transfers have a unique perspective because they can compare Taylor to their other colleges, and many have found that the community stands out the most.
Sophomore Bekka Swanson, a transfer from Cincinnati Technical and Community College, said that she struggled to find a community at her previous school.
“I really wanted that community and opportunities to just be involved in different things that I wasn't finding at the other place,” Swanson said. “Because personally, for me, I am here at school to get an education, but also, I want the other things to go along with it. And being able to grow, not just educationally, but also spiritually, that was really important, obviously, and then just growing as a person and other relationships.”
Some colleges share Taylor’s desire to integrate faith and learning. Robinson said he appreciated Gordon College’s value in integrating faith and learning. However, he did not feel connected.
Robinson also said he struggled to feel a part of the student body at Gordon. He felt set apart because of his age, being older than most students. At Taylor, he found the opposite, especially in chapel.
“When I was told it wasn't required here, I was like, ‘Oh, I wonder how it's going to be here,’” Robinson said. “I figured there'd be less people. I figured, if it's not required, who wants to go to these chapel services? But I remember my first chapel… and it felt like a pep rally. Nobody was required to be there, but everybody wanted to be there, and everybody was just so energized and just loving. And it didn't matter who I sat with. I was in conversation with the people around me. Even though I don't have a building here, I don't have a wing or anything, I felt so accepted.”
Even though Robinson commutes, he has found people who are excited about Christ and want to engage in conversation with him. He said Taylor was doing something right with their community.
Ruder said she loves that students say it’s a God thing that they end up at Taylor. She loves hearing about the stories that brought them here and the rightness they felt when they stepped onto campus.
“Taylor’s got this thing – it’s a God thing,” Ruder said. “I'm getting goosebumps talking about it. You can't manufacture God things. You just know when you're where God wants you to be, especially if you're open to that.”
