At the start of the 2025 fall semester, UT was home to 1,778 transfer students. While these students arrive from an array of institutions at varying classifications, they all have one trait in common: a desire to be a Tennessee Volunteer. And thanks to a new initiative through the Student Government Association, future transfer students will have increased engagement opportunities in SGA and receive a helpful guidebook to support their transition to Rocky Top.
The idea sparked when UT students Mansi Bhimani and Ella Blair participated in a breakout session at the annual SGA/SEC Exchange Conference in the summer. The session focused on incorporating transfer students into SGA, and ever since Bhimani and Blair have been working to create an on ramp to get transfer students involved.
“Our motto within SGA is ‘everyone’s a member’,” says Ella Blair, student body vice president in SGA. “After examining our different programs and branches, we noticed we did not have anything specific to transfer students. For first-year students, we have our First-Year Council branch, and this program—designed to introduce students to UT, foster leadership skills, and build community—has always been one of our most successful. So, we asked how we could create a similar opportunity for growth and connection for transfer students. That is where the idea for Torch began.”
The idea began as a way to bridge gaps across campus, according to Bhimani, who is a senior transfer student studying anthropology and currently serving as SGA’s executive advisor for partnerships, executive coordination, and special initiatives. She notes that when SGA examined their programs, they saw a clear opportunity to expand and create a program specifically for transfer students, hoping that this new endeavor would serve as a launching pad for transfer students.
“At the time, UT did not have a dedicated space where transfer students could simply be transfers,” says Bhimani. “A space where students could meet peers who were navigating the same transition, build belonging, and feel connected from day one. We wanted to change that and create a lasting impact on campus by doing so.”
“After participating in the exchange conference this summer, students realized that this was an area where UT could be a leader, as not many schools have an established program to help transfer students get involved with SGA,” says Amber Kinder, coordinator for the Center for Student Advocacy.
The program, now referred to as Torch: Transfers Lighting the Way, has 20 students involved. Bhimani and Blair note that Torch allows transfer students to realize they are not alone, creating a space where transfer students are able to build connections, further develop their leadership skills, find support through SGA and their peers, and truly lean on one another. Students were invited to participate in the program through tabling opportunities at orientation sessions, social media, and through an incoming course for transfer students similar to the first-year studies class.
“Then, those same students turn around and work to make the transition easier for the students coming after them,” says Bhimani. The group is focused on creating a transfer guidebook with helpful information, tips, resources, and keys to success that transfers arriving at UT in future semesters can incorporate into their daily lives. The guidebook will be available as a digital download and will be shared with incoming transfer students during tabling events at orientation.
“It creates a wonderful cycle where lived experiences are shared, celebrated, and used to support others,” adds Bhimani. “I genuinely believe that Torch has helped nurture a positive identity around being a transfer student at UT. It has shown that transfers are not just joining UT, they are actively shaping it.”
Bhimani notes that transfer students face the same challenges that any transplant does: learning the intricacies that make living in a new home easier. Details like where to study, how to navigate buildings, which dining spots are fastest, or where to go for help are usually learned through shared experiences that transfer students may not have had, lengthening their adjustment period until UT feels like home sweet home.
“I found the ability to build a community super beneficial. To have so many transfer students in a room and be able to hear their stories and get to know each other was super impactful.”
Fall 2025 Torch Participant
Throughout the semester-long program, these students have participated in a CliftonStrengths workshop led by the Jones Center for Leadership and Service and enjoyed guest speakers from other areas of Student Life. The students are also working to create an opportunity for transfers to pursue campus leadership through a formal transfer advisory council in SGA. Though the plans are preliminary, Torch participants and Center for Student Advocacy staff are committed to increasing the number of pathways for transfer students to be involved in SGA operations and actively participate in campus life.
“I think Torch met a need within SGA by creating a more welcoming space to introduce transfer students to our organization and by ensuring that their voices are heard,” says Blair, a senior studying political science and history. “Additionally, by supporting a new group of transfer student leaders each semester, SGA can better represent the interests of transfer students and ensure transfer student involvement in our organization beyond Torch. I hope that Torch and the work that it does help transfer students find their home here on Rocky Top for years to come.”