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Featured in ACPA's Commission on Adult Learner and Commuter Students E-Newsletter
July 2012
Kennesaw State University has a history of recognizing and serving the adult learner population with a variety innovative programs and services. The university began a campaign to address the needs of the nontraditional student in the mid 1980’s when the institution was a feeder school to the major University System of Georgia colleges. Since then, the college has grown into a reputable 4-year institution that now offers over 51 undergraduate 17 master’s programs and 5 doctoral programs. Enrollment has soared to over 24,000 students in the 2011-12 academic year. Kennesaw State University opened its first residence hall in 2002 and upon completion of the latest housing addition; the university will have over 3500 residential students. During the university’s rapid growth, the institution did not forget the original nontraditional makeup of the student body.
The nontraditional student experience at KSU usually begins with a visit or inquiry about Adult Learner Programs. Our office frequently receives phone inquiries and accepts appointments from prospective nontraditional students even before they apply or have been accepted to KSU. The staff collaborates with the admissions office by participating in the Black & Gold Experience Sessions for nontraditional and adult learners which are held each month. The Black & Gold Experience serves as an information session followed by a campus tour for first time and returning adults. During the Black & Gold Experience sessions staff members of Adult Learner Programs / Lifelong Learning Center come to speak to potential adult learners and inform them of the academic and social resources available to them upon admission to KSU.
The next point of contact for the nontraditional student is through KSU’s Orientation Program. KSU staff members introduce the services that Adult Learner Programs offers and invite them to visit the Lifelong Learning Center facility. This opportunity is also used to encourage the adult learners in the audience to attend the Adult Learner Information Seminar which is held the week before the start of each semester. The seminar helps the nontraditional overcome their fears of attending college as well as the opportunity to meet other students who have made the transition to college life. This community building seminar relieves common fears experienced by this population through introducing adult learner specific resources and support groups like KSU’s Adult Learner Student Organization, Odyssey Peer Mentoring Program and ALP's Peer Assistance Leaders.
The next opportunity to engage nontraditional students is through KSU’s First Year Seminars Program. These seminars are nationally-recognized and award-winning courses designed to help students transition successfully into higher education. The university has developed four versions of the first year seminar: KSU 1101, KSU 1111, KSU 1121, and KSU 1200. Each version of the First Year Seminar has a slightly different approach, but all are designed to help students grow in four key areas: life skills, strategies for academic success, campus and community connections, and foundations for global learning. There is also a special section of KSU 1101 for Adult Learners that focuses on the unique needs of students with the following characteristics:
- 25 years of age or older or have a 5 year gap since their last enrollment in HS or college
- Employed part-time or full-time
- Serves in the role of spouse, domestic partner, parent, or care-taker
- Veteran or Reservist of the Armed Forces
KSU 1101 for Adult Learners is taught by R. Todd Powell, Assistant Director of Adult Learner Programs. In Mr. Powell’s course, students are taught college survival skills and they are challenged to think critically, develop reasoning abilities, and express themselves in both oral and written forms. Involving nontraditional students within the campus community is an important part of the goals and mission of Adult Learner Programs.
The Lifelong Learning Center is a place that many students, faculty, and staff consider a true gem. The Center serves as a resource center for adult learners (students over the traditional college age or living “nontraditional” college life-styles that include family responsibilities and employment). The Center seeks to enhance the university experience by providing programs and services specifically designed for students returning to college or starting college later in life. Adult Learner Programs/Lifelong Learning Center offers students:
- Computer Lab with student printer and wireless access
- Hour long one-on-one Math tutoring sessions by appointment
- Online Math Tutorial Videos with hundreds of hours explaining math topics
- Online tutoring using Blackboard Collaborate
- Free coffee, tea, and full kitchenette
- Fax machine & free local telephone
- Study and social networking area
- HDTV with cable
- Recognition ceremonies for nontraditional students
- Parenting Programs
- Academic, Career, Financial, Wellness & Social Workshops
- Newspapers, various publications & informational brochures
Adult Learner Programs recognizes that financial issues may cause stress for the nontraditional and commuter population. Two innovative subsidy programs were developed to help counter the monetary issues facing the adult learner at KSU. The first program is the Childcare Subsidy Lottery Program which began in 2002 to help KSU student parents offset a portion of childcare costs while attending college. The Childcare Subsidy Lottery Program is open to all currently enrolled Kennesaw State University students in good academic standing who are parents or guardian of a childcare-aged individual. An award of $350 is given to 15 students each semester. The second program is the Adult Learner Book Subsidy Lottery. This program was developed in the Fall of 2009 to assist KSU non-traditional students offset a portion of the cost of textbooks and supplies. The Book Subsidy Lottery Program is designed for non-traditional, commuter students, who are enrolled at least part time at KSU and who exhibit financial need. Adult Learner Programs provides 30 awards annually valued at $300.00 per award. Eligible students must be at least 25 years of age or older, a commuter student of KSU (not living in KSU Housing), enrolled in at least the 2nd semester of KSU coursework, enrolled with at least 6 credit hours, earned a minimum GPA of 2.5, and have a current FAFSA on file indicating financial need.
Over the last academic year, Adult Learner Programs has worked to increase our technological footprint on campus. During the Fall 2011 semester, Adult Learner Programs/Lifelong Learning Center redesigned our website and introduced new social networking sites to the program. Connecting adult learner and nontraditional students to social media is an important step in building a community feel for our student population. In addition to the already existing Facebook group, “Adult Learner and Non-traditional Students at Kennesaw State University,” Adult Learner Programs started a Twitter profile (@ksuadultlearner), the ALP News Buzz blog, the Adult Learner Parenting Programs at KSU blog, the Adult Learner Programs LinkedIn Group, and Parenting Programs fan page on Facebook. We use social media sites to effectively reach our nontraditional population and to update our students on events, programs, and services sponsored by Adult Learner Programs and other campus services related to supporting our student population.
Our website (http://www.kennesaw.edu/stu_dev/alp/) connects student to our services and resources. Students can register for our events through our website eliminating the need for paper event registration forms. A popular service that the Lifelong Learning Center provides is one-on-one and online peer tutoring. In order to meet the demand for tutoring, the Lifelong Learning Center implemented an online appointment booking system for managing the large volume of weekly appointments. The system allows students to see which tutors are available; what courses they specialize in; and what time slots are open. In addition to the new appointment system, the Lifelong Learning Center offers an online tutoring option for students who are unable to come to campus for an in-person session. This technology has allowed us to increase the tutoring service from 1192 appointments in the 2010-2011 academic year, to 2557 appointments in the 2011-2012 year. Students who receive tutoring are encouraged to provide feedback to our staff through an online assessment form (http://alp.mywconline.com/survey.php) which we use to improve our tutoring services. Furthermore, the online appointment system allows our tutors to record the progress of students so Adult Learner Programs can assess the success of the program.
In the coming academic year, Adult Learner Programs will implement a new online community through GeorgiaVIEW Vista (https://web.kennesaw.edu/vista/). The Adult Learner Programs - Online Community will give students direct access to all issues concerning adult learner students such as academic support, career information, campus events, ALP programs and services, and pertinent resources on and off campus. The Online Community will give a forum for students to connect with each other and with ALP as they will be able to post discussions or relevant information to the students within the community. The Online Community will enhance the freshman and transfer experience by placing often-times alienated adult learner students in the center of the action. Students will have a chance to know what events are happening on campus and what services to use in order to enhance their academic experience at Kennesaw State University. There are endless possibilities with the launch of our GeorgiaVIEW Vista community. Adult Learner Programs can conduct surveys directly with students in order to improve our services, upload video messages, enhance the outreach of our academic resources, and better promote parenting program resources. With a few clicks, adult learners will have another exciting community at their fingertips.
Social engagement of the nontraditional student is encouraged through involvement in the Adult Learner Student Organization. The mission of the Adult Learner Student Organization (as known as ALSO), is to serve as an advocate for the nontraditional student community of Kennesaw State University by addressing their issues, needs, and concerns. ALSO provides an environment for networking among peers, academic support, social outlet, and a place to find student resources. The organization is a well-established Registered Student Organization that is known for several annual events and community service projects. ALSO members are encouraged to fill a post in KSU Student Government as the Nontraditional Student Senator. In addition, ALSO members participate in the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE) and a delegation attends the national conference each year.
Finally, there are two ceremonies honoring both the adult learner and any graduating student at KSU. The first ceremony takes place on April 9th of each year. On that date the state of Georgia celebrates “Adult Learner Day.” It was established by the passing of House Resolution 1444 on March 17, 2004. Former KSU President Betty Siegel and members of the Adult Learner Student Organization led this effort. In celebration of the day, Adult Learner Programs created the Adult Learner Recognition Ceremony. Faculty, staff, and students nominate individuals who have overcome significant obstacles and hardship to excel academically. These individuals receive an award and recognition by their nominator. The second is the WINGS Ceremony. The WINGS (When In Need Generous Support) event gives graduates the opportunity to thank friends, family, faculty and staff who have helped in their pursuit of graduation. This formal dinner event with live entertainment has served to be a crowning moment for graduating adult learners and traditional students alike since 1991. “We strive to be part of the nontraditional students’ experience from beginning to end,” states Todd Powell, Assistant Director of Adult Learner Programs. Powell, goes on to state; “Capturing the attention of the nontraditional student can be challenging, but once they discover our services and facility they find comfort and support from fellow adults facing the same obstacles.”
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