10
Thursday, April 20, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Non-traditional students seek help
Bv SUSAN MORGENSTERN
Staff Writer
Not all college students are recent high school graduates experiencing life away from home for the first time, burdened with few responsibilities and lots of spare time
Non-traditional students do not fit that mold.
They often differ among themselves as much as they differ from traditional
They are, for example, commuters,
veterans; single parents and grandparents.
"We even have a pig farmer and preacher who teaches Lawrence Kerr, Lawrence, and recently,
GORDON SAID the lunches had been started by his predecessor about three months earlier.
Kerr is one of the non-traditional students at the University who have been meeting for lunches and discussions in the past few weeks. He was a good helper of Jupiter tutor, assistant dean of women.
The group would like to become more structured and gain formal recognition from KU, according to Sharon Fickes, Olia otheophasm. It could then work more effectively to solve problems that non-traditional students face, she said.
"I'm not saying that all our concerns are different from what you would call traditional students, but they affect us differently because of our different roles," she said.
Those different priorities arise from a multiclub of roles, she said.
"you're not just a student," she said.
"You are a full-time parent and
workfull time."
The best purpose the group serves, she said, is to bring together people who have experience with the organization.
"TTS NICE to have peers who understand." she said.
Fickes and Kerr are good examples of the diversity of non-traditional students. Both are identified by the University as sophomores.
But Fickes, a transfer student who had been out of school for three years before coming to KU, is a mother and works part time.
One characteristic that many of the nontraditional students seem to share is that they had been out of school for a long time before they decided to come to KU.
Bob Woods, Lawrence graduate student and former Navy pilot, was very surprised at the changes he found when he returned to college after 10 years.
"I EXPECTED to see people with holes in their blue jeans, saying things like 'Bar the wolf.'"
But instead, Woods said, the students dressed neatly and most of their conversations centered on getting a job after graduation.
Woods said he enjoyed being a student again but wanted to meet people who had more experience than the younger students in his classes.
That was why he started going to the luncheons.
"I gives me an avenue of communication with students who are near my age" be
He said the group could help identify places non-traditional students could go for help because communication was a problem in their university and its non-traditional students.
Not knowing where to go for help was also mentioned by Cathy Rola, a Lawrence professor.
"ID LIKE to know if you can go talk to your advisor anytime or just at the beginning of the day."
Rolla said the group had helped her to get in touch with other angle parents, although she felt there was no place for them.
"Most of us are really busy, and it's hard to get together," she said.
Being so busy made it also hard to find time to study, she said.
Forty-year-old Karleen Kerr doubles as a grandmother and a KU student. Karleen came KU after out of school 23 years and hopes to launch a professional career as a teacher.
"I'm taking 18 hours this semester, and I am not going to take that many any more," she says.
Rolla said she worked time and went to school during the day, got home by 5:30 to 6, fixed her for herself and her son, put bedding to 8 and tried to get to bed herself by 11.
"So that's only three hours to study and be ready," said James. "Besides, it's hard to do every day."
Fickes agreed that study time was a problem and added that it was sometimes comical trying to keep her child away from her books, typewriter and school supplies.
Catching up
KERR SAID her husband urged her to study.
"He'll ask me 'Have you got your homework done?' Why are you watching
The expense of attending college was another concern shared by the non-graduate students.
Many said they had been able to obtain time jobs through KJ's office of financial aid.
But Kurt remembered her first semester at KU in 195, before she was aware of the
"I worked three part-time jobs," she said,
"and didn't have a car."
Money problems, family concerns, lack of
Blacks to gather for career discussion
The second Black Student Career Day will open tomorrow with an address by Lt. Gov. George Brown of Colorado at 1 p.m. in the Kansas Union.
portunities, Marshall Jackson, assistant director of admissions, said yesterday.
Jackson said representatives of 38 companies were expected at the Job Opportunity Fair in the Union from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. He said representatives from across the country, including New York, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Missouri.
Brown, a 1960 KU graduate and a Lawrence native, will be one of about 80 or 90 black alumni on campus to talk to students about career planning and op-
After Brown's address Friday, career counseling sessions are scheduled until 5 p.m. A meeting for students and alumni is scheduled after the Job Opportunity Fair on Thursday.
Jackson said the career day and fair, to be held annually, were designed to help students prepare for a career rather than just a job.
study time and little information about available KU resources combine to aggrieve the fears of failure that nontraditional students face.
VIVIA McCoy, director of the adult life resource center in the division of continuing education, said non-traditional students frequently doubted their abilities to succeed
"There's nothing like getting your feet wet and finding out you can do it," she said.
McCoy said such students had advantages in returning to school. For example, she said, they had an advantage in generalizing abilities that they had learned because of their experience.
And non-traditional students are "beautifully motivated," she said.
"When they come back to school they're ready to learn," she said.
Kerr said she had never really been afraid of failure.
"I didn't know if I could do it, but I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do," she said.
Kansas vs. Avila College-
Saturday, April 22-12:00 p.m.
GENEVA, Switzerland (UPI) Just three hours after the announcement the his father was refusing to return to Russia, soviet KGB agents had genndy A. Sheshchenko on his way to Moscow, Western diplomatic sources said
The announcement on April 10 that United Nations Undersecretary General Arkady Shchevchenko wanted to remain in Geneva for another day, the action in Geneva, the sources disclosed.
yesterday.
Kansas vs. Rockhurst College Sunday, April 23-2:00 p.m.
Saturday April 22
K. U. Soccer Club
We think our customers ought to be appreciated!
So we're ready to cook up a Tacorritic taste treat for less—as the best way to say thanks, a lot!
Games played at 23rd & Iowa
It's Tacorrific!
K. U. Soccer Club member of Recreation Services
Defector's son returned
Everything on our menu 39c
A Tacorrific way to say thanks!
Sun-Thurs 10:30-12:00
Fri & Sat 10:30-1:00
1626 W. 23rd
1626 W. 23rd
DINING ROOM NOW OPEN!
Location: 23rd & Louisiana
Malls Shopping Center
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday & Saturday
MARCH OF DIMES
GRAND
SLAM
SOFTBALL
TOURNAMEN
SPONSORS
Mister Guy • Brewery
Kansas Public Service C
Jerry M. Nossaman D.D.
Francis S.
Kinka
The
The
SPONSORS
Mister Guy • Brewery • The Chute
Kansas Public Service Co.
Jerry M. Nossaman D.D.S. P.A.
Francis Sporting Goods
Kinkos • Aztec Inn
The Harvest
The Town Shop
April 22 & 23 Holcomb Sports Complex Sponsored by Phi Kapa Psi & Delta Upsilon
Friday April 21 3:00-5:00
The Brewery
T.G.I.F.
25° Draws For Grand Slam
Softball Ticket Holders.
Sponsored by:
$\Delta \Upsilon$ & $ \Phi K\Psi $