Center caters to adult learners, helps them assimilate to University

Editor's note: This is the second story in a three-part series focusing on adult learners at the University. This article explores the purpose of the Center for Adult Learner Services.

Imagine feeling isolated and confused while sitting amid a sea of students in Schwab Auditorium -- surrounded by freshmen half your age, or students who don't have the added problems of children or a full-time job. This is a feeling some adult learners face daily when they decide to resume or begin their college education.

The adult student, Harrison said, may have questions different from a younger student coming out of high school. The center, which has been in existence for about 14 years, can help some adult students with these problems.

"The mission (of the center) is . . . to help people who wish to begin to resume college study," she said. The center is also designed "to help adult students make the transition of adding the student role to others they have."

Adult learners are classified as: students who are 24 years old or older; students returning to education after serving in the armed services; students who have been away from learning for four years or more; or students with multiple adult roles, such as a parenting and maintaining a full-time job.

An adult learner could be as young as 17 or 18 years old, but might have to perform adult roles if they have children, are married or have a job, Harrison said. Because of those different roles, adult students may act differently than their peers, she said.

"We meet one-on-one with individuals who think of beginning or resuming college study," Harrison said. "You have to tailor the information you give to what is possible for an individual to do."

To help cater to students' needs, the center runs a variety of programs to advise adult students. Some programs, such as the Adult Student Fair held late in the summer, are informational and are set up to provide students with information about applying for programs.

The center also developed some materials and handouts about steps for gaining admission, Harrison said. Other activities include a program on child-care questions and academic concerns.

"I think enrolled students benefit a bit just from the center's existence," Harrison said.

According to a University survey, 48 percent of all the graduate students at University Park campus are 30 years of age or older.

To help these students, Kathy Hillegass, a staff assistant for the center, said the center tries to provide the students with resources such as class scheduling books and helpful information adult students may not receive because they commute and do not live on campus.

The office also holds evening hours several nights a week to accommodate students or prospective students who have questions and are unable to call during the day because they work.

The center, said Deanna Coble, a staff assistant, brings all the resources for connecting with different departments within the University under one umbrella.

"I think we have good one-on-one contact with the prospective student and we provide them with a wide range of information that otherwise they would have to go to other departments to get," Coble said.

The center, which staffs a director, an assistant director, four work study students and a volunteer, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. During Spring Break, it will hold limited hours.