When Kaylee Lewis transferred to IU Indianapolis in May, she achieved a longtime dream.
She’d wanted to attend IU and study law since she was in middle school. But life got in the way. At 25, Lewis came into college with two young kids, recovering from addiction.
That’s why she signed up for a new program at IU this semester that pairs transfer and adult students — those starting college later in life — with a student coach who is also a transfer or adult student.
For Lewis, having a coach with a similar life experience has helped her both find resources and to persevere when things got tough.
“To see another student who is a mom, a veteran, doing all the things that I am aspiring to be,” she said, “it gave me a lot of hope.”
At IU Indianapolis, transfer students made up about a quarter of the new student population in fall 2025, according to university data. Program staff hope that peer coaching will help these new students build friendships and confidence.
“Coming to a new campus, there are a lot of changes,” said Kim Priesmeyer, managing director of the transfer student center. “It’s just really that power of that peer relationship and really setting the tone for having continued success and feeling supported across their time here.”
Students helping students
The concept of being in college as an adult wasn’t new to Arielle Smith.
When she was a kid, Smith would go to college classes with her mom, who attended Martin University. Despite that experience, when Smith finished her military service, she hesitated to go back to school.
“After a while, I felt like I was too old,” Smith, now 36, said. “I just felt like I would be out of place.”
Smith eventually went to Ivy Tech and finished her associate degree, then transferred to IU Indianapolis last fall. When she arrived on campus, she found herself scrambling a bit to figure out the ropes.
“Coming from a small campus to this very large campus can be a shock to the system,” Smith said. “Having someone there that has been through it to walk you through it is extremely helpful.”
That’s why she decided to sign up to be a coach this fall. Smith tries to share as many resources as possible with her students — from mental health care to the various clubs that are open to all students, regardless of age or transfer status.
Smith wants the students she’s coaching to take advantage of all IU Indy has to offer.
“If you want to be involved and you want to commit to something like a club on campus,” Smith said, “don’t be afraid to just go and do it.”
Adjusting to campus
Transfer and adult students often come to college facing barriers that their younger, nontransfer peers don’t have.
Many adult students are raising children or working. Over a third of transfer students at IU come from Ivy Tech, whose campuses are generally smaller and easier to navigate.
The university’s transfer and adult student center provides academic advising and resources. But sometimes, students just need to hear from someone who’s been through it themselves.
“Students see me and Kim all around campus all the time,” said Janice Bankert-Countryman, assistant director of student services for IU’s transfer student center. “And that’s powerful, but it’s not as powerful as peer partnerships.”
The university marketed the program to students who transferred into IU Indianapolis in 2025. Staff started the program with nine paid peer coaches, all of whom are transfer or adult students themselves. They were then paired up with a newer student, based on life experience and interests.
While the semester’s not over yet, Bankert-Countryman said she’s hearing good things from students who are being mentored. She hopes the program will help them feel empowered to ask for help not just while they’re in the program, but as they continue at IU Indy.
“It is intended to expand students’ wellness,” she said, “not just this semester, but provide them the tools and the confidence to reach out for more resources as they move forward.”
As for Lewis, she feels like the support she’s received from her coach, Smith, has helped her be successful at IU. The two women bonded over their shared experiences — they’re both veterans, both moms and both aspiring lawyers.
Knowing that she had Smith to lean on made the whole college experience less lonely.
“I felt like I was just talking to a big sister,” said Lewis.
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Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire by email claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org, on most social media @clairerafford or on Signal 317-759-0429.
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