Transfer and non-trad student week 2025 is Oct. 20 to 24

10/07/2025

SUNY Cortland will celebrate its transfer and non-traditional students - two groups that often overlap with a wide range of valuable lived experiences - with five different social activities planned during the week of Oct. 20 to 24.

This fall, about 400 transfer students started their SUNY Cortland journey. An additional 150 to 200 will join this coming spring.

"SUNY Cortland strives to offer a supportive and inclusive community to all new and returning transfer students," said Gregory Diller '07, coordinator of transition programs.

He noted that Advisement and Transition provides several social and academic programs to assist new transfer students with their transition to the university and continues to show support throughout their time on the campus.

"We are proud to continue to be a place that new transfer students can feel comfortable and find their sense of belonging," Diller said.

Cortland also enrolls some 200 non-traditional students.

"This diverse population brings a wealth of life experiences and unique perspectives to our campus," said Evan Mills, academic success advisor to the Non-Traditional Student Organization.

The university defines non-traditional students as undergraduate students who are 24 years of age or older or, regardless of age, may have dependent children, be working full-time, have military experience or have made a break in education at some point after high school.

"We're grateful for their perspective in our classrooms and are honored to support them as they work towards earning a SUNY Cortland degree," Mills said.

The week will feature highlights on faculty and staff who experienced the transfer process, opportunities to recognize non-traditional and transfer students, and workshops and activities, including an area door decorating contest featuring prizes awarded by Tau Sigma, the national honor society for transfer students, and a weeklong Instagram Takeover by the Transfer Network Team filled with transfer student facts and campus community spotlights.

A series of profiles in the Oct. 21 Bulletin will offer reflections by campus community members who have experienced college as a transfer student or a non-traditional student.

Events include:

Transfer Trivia: Monday, Oct. 20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Corey Union Fireplace Lounge. Students can join classmates for multiple games of trivia and win Cortland prizes.

Game Night: Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Corey Union Exhibition Lounge. Hang out with other transfer students, enjoy cookies and lemonade, and play board games. Gluten free cookies will be available.

Donuts and cider celebration: Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - or while supplies last - at Newmark Pavilion beside the Memorial Library entrance. Transfer and non-trad students are invited to enjoy donuts and cider with classmates or faculty and staff members who are helping celebrate the week.

Study Abroad 101 transfer edition: Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. in Old Main Colloquium (Room 220). This specialized session will share more about how to get started with the study abroad process, including how to search for programs, identify courses to take abroad, get courses approved, understand program costs, apply for scholarships and more.

Rock painting and record decorating: Thursday, Oct. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Corey Union, Room 204-205. Cortland transfers and non-trads can decorate an old record or a rock and turn it into art. All materials will be provided. Tau Sigma will offer this activity to de-stress from midterms and have some fall fun. Participants who are new students this fall are invited to join and get involved with Tau Sigma.