Spring Break
Supporting non-traditional students
Rick Kambic
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News
The typical college student starts right after high school.
But for some people, work or family puts off their entrance to college for a while. Those who start or come back to school later are known as non-traditional students and the campus group OASIS is designed just for them.
The Organization of Adult Students Informative and Supportive is a group, which provides an online forum for non-traditional students to ask each other questions and get information about campus and group events.
Cheryl Barker, OASIS coordinator, defined non-traditional students as usually being over 25, but said there are other criteria, which make someone a non-traditional student.
"If they are under 25 and married, have children, or they are self-supporting (meaning they pay for their own schooling and bills), they qualify as a non-traditional student," Barker said.
Like most student groups, OASIS has meetings to keep everyone informed on what is happening both on campus and within the group. Since most non-traditional students either don't live on campus or have work or family issues, OASIS usually has their meetings online.
Barker said she usually sends out emails to group members on Mondays to let them know about upcoming events. The OASIS website also has a WebCT-like discussion forum to make it easier for students to communicate with each other.
"It seems to work best because they can go on it when it's convenient for them," Barker said. "They can post questions and know other students are looking, plus someone usually responds. It's nice to know they have a big support group."
Members of the OASIS group aren't always on campus or even in the surrounding area, which makes it even more difficult for the group to get together.
Barker said they have members in Chicago, Southern Illinois and even Canada.
Despite all the external pressures of being a non-traditional student, Susan Bulla, former coordinator for OASIS, said research has shown first semester non-traditional students usually do about the same as regular students and go on to continue to do well.
As part of National Non-Traditional Student Week, OASIS awarded students, faculty and departments.
Elisabeth Martell, a bachelor of general studies student, was awarded first place in an OASIS sponsored essay contest. The contest asked participants to describe what it was like to be a non-traditional student.
OASIS members also nominated teachers and departments who support non-traditional students.
The communication studies department was honored for its support, as well as Melody Wollan, assistant professor of management for the Lumpkin School of Business.
Wollan, was awarded the Special Services to Non-Traditional Students award.
She said she enjoys having non-traditional students in her classes because they bring life and work experiences to the class, but she also makes sure to treat them just like any other student.
"It's a fairness issue. I don't treat them any differently because they are just students. All students have experience and I respect that these students have a group to connect to each other and get support."
Students who qualify as non-traditional and want to get involved with the OASIS should contact Cheryl Barker at cabarker@eiu.edu.
But for some people, work or family puts off their entrance to college for a while. Those who start or come back to school later are known as non-traditional students and the campus group OASIS is designed just for them.
The Organization of Adult Students Informative and Supportive is a group, which provides an online forum for non-traditional students to ask each other questions and get information about campus and group events.
Cheryl Barker, OASIS coordinator, defined non-traditional students as usually being over 25, but said there are other criteria, which make someone a non-traditional student.
"If they are under 25 and married, have children, or they are self-supporting (meaning they pay for their own schooling and bills), they qualify as a non-traditional student," Barker said.
Like most student groups, OASIS has meetings to keep everyone informed on what is happening both on campus and within the group. Since most non-traditional students either don't live on campus or have work or family issues, OASIS usually has their meetings online.
Barker said she usually sends out emails to group members on Mondays to let them know about upcoming events. The OASIS website also has a WebCT-like discussion forum to make it easier for students to communicate with each other.
"It seems to work best because they can go on it when it's convenient for them," Barker said. "They can post questions and know other students are looking, plus someone usually responds. It's nice to know they have a big support group."
Members of the OASIS group aren't always on campus or even in the surrounding area, which makes it even more difficult for the group to get together.
Barker said they have members in Chicago, Southern Illinois and even Canada.
Despite all the external pressures of being a non-traditional student, Susan Bulla, former coordinator for OASIS, said research has shown first semester non-traditional students usually do about the same as regular students and go on to continue to do well.
As part of National Non-Traditional Student Week, OASIS awarded students, faculty and departments.
Elisabeth Martell, a bachelor of general studies student, was awarded first place in an OASIS sponsored essay contest. The contest asked participants to describe what it was like to be a non-traditional student.
OASIS members also nominated teachers and departments who support non-traditional students.
The communication studies department was honored for its support, as well as Melody Wollan, assistant professor of management for the Lumpkin School of Business.
Wollan, was awarded the Special Services to Non-Traditional Students award.
She said she enjoys having non-traditional students in her classes because they bring life and work experiences to the class, but she also makes sure to treat them just like any other student.
"It's a fairness issue. I don't treat them any differently because they are just students. All students have experience and I respect that these students have a group to connect to each other and get support."
Students who qualify as non-traditional and want to get involved with the OASIS should contact Cheryl Barker at cabarker@eiu.edu.
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