THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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CAMPUS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1993
Surviving at KU
Center helps new students adjust to the University
By Jess DeHaven Kansan staff writer
Where are my classes? What if I'm buried in homework? Exactly when in the semester will I go broke? AAAAHHHH!
For most students, returning to KU means seeing friends and moving into apartments, but for those who are new to the university, questions about basic survival can cause many nervous breakdowns.
Kathryn Kretschner, director of new student orientation, said many new students had concerns about how to get through registration.
"A lot of students want to know about fee completion, financial aid, picking up options and where to get parking permits," she said. "We seen many concerns about some of the most practical things."
Angela Latham, Shawnee junior, said that practical concerns could cause stress for new students.
"You want to know where parking is and how much it costs," she said. "All the parking rules are really annoying and complicated, and it can cause you a lot of stress."
Kretschner said Hawk Week activities could be helpful in introducing new students to KU.
new school year.
"I would encourage students to par-ticipate in as many Hawk Week activities as possible," she said.
"There are tours of the museums and libraries and also class schedule tours where we take students around campus and point out the buildings where their classes are located.
"The big thing is Traditions Night on Thursday," she said "If they really want to learn the traditions and how to wave the wheat, that's a great way for them to feel a part of KU."
Marshall Jackson, administrative assistant at the Student Assistance Center, said that knowing what resources were available to students was often helpful to them.
"The most important thing to know is that they have resources available to them if they just ask," he said. "Many times students hesitate to come forward because they think that they should know everything, but we don't expect them to."
nonexpert teacher
Academic success was another
common concern among students,
Kretschner said.
"There are several good ways to get ahead academically, including making use of the Student Assistance Center workshops," she said. "Attending class also is very important. If students think that that's a good time to sleep in, we strongly recommend against that."
Kretschmer said students often had concerns about professors, which could be alleviated by talking to the instructors.
"Getting in touch with professors is one of the most important things students can do to make themselves feel more comfortable," she said. "One
See SURVIVAL, Page 11.
Inquiring minds want to know ...
Kathryn Kretschmer, director of New Student Orientation, provides answers to a few commonly asked questions.
Students who did not pay all fees through mail in enrollment need to complete the process. Students with last names beginning A-O should complete the process at the Kansas Union from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 19, and those with last names beginning P-Z should attend 9 a.m.-moon, Aug. 20. Those who enrolled Aug. 16-19 should pay fees noon - 4
Flying high
p. m., Aug. 20. All students should update fail addresses from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 19 or 9 a.m.-noon, Aug. 20 at the Union.
How do I complete registration?
Where can I pick up my options?
How will I find my classes?
where can pick up my options
Information on where to pick up bus passes,
SUA move passes and sports passes will be
available Aug. 16-19 in the Kansas Union.
What if I need to add or drop a class?
What if I need to add or drop a class?
Appointments for add/drop are listed according to the last two digits of students' KUID numbers. A list of add/drop times is on page 23 of the Fall Timetable; however, all a.m. times listed should be p.m. and all p.m. times should be a.m.
Tours of campus will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 18-20. Tours start at the Jayhawk in front of Strong Hall.
Aust of add/droptimes also is posted outside the Enrollment Center in Strong Hall.
On June 26, Antionette Nelson sped her car across campus and launched it off the edge of Mount Oread, a stunt that even Evil Kneivel never tried. For a summary of other summer news see page 8.
second-rate decorating
Non-traditional students encounter adversity
This week, returning students are prying fourth-generation couches out of compact cars and unrolling beerstained rugs. The ritual of apartment decorating on a low budget has begun.
This week, returning
Page 6.
Bv J.R. Clairborne
Freshmen coming to the University of Kansas this week are scurrying around worried about living arrangements, money and classes.
Kansan staff writer
But non-traditional and transfer students are facing more than the typical new student headaches.
For many non-traditional students, the adjustment of going back to school can be a tough transition, said Gerry Vernon, president of OAKS — Non-Traditional Students Organization. OAKS is made up of students who did not go directly to college from high school or are returning to finish a college degree.
Readjusting to classes and homework can take more than a semester for some, Vernon said. Vernon, Colby graduate student, came to the University to finish his undergraduate degree in 1989. He was 31 years old with a family.
Place family, school and work together
makes jugging very difficult to deal with," he said.
Lee Aderman, Des Moines, Iowa, graduate student, said that it was hard for some transfer and non-traditional students to balance their jobs and schoolwork.
Alderman, who started his undergraduate work at 22, took part in a survey conducted by KU graduate students that evaluated the needs of non-traditional students. He said the survey found that many of the students considered work and family more important than their classes.
Like Alderman, many of these students have families and don't give a second thought to missing class to be with a sick family member.
They have all these extra forces that traditional students don't have that pull them away from campus," Alderman said.
Despite the distractions, Vernon said, he said he thought the University had identified some of the needs of these students and offered services to help.
Entered services is the Student Assis-
One of those services is the Student Assis-
nurturers' services include sessions during New Student Orientation that focus on the needs of non-traditional and transfer students, he said.
tance Center in Strong Hall. The center helps non-traditional and transfer students meet their needs by offering assistance with matters such as age-related issues, commuting, child or dependent care and veteran and marital status.
Jefferson said the key to involvement at the University was to ask plenty of questions and pay attention to news of future campus events.
dentis, we said.
Sandra Jefferson, Overland Park senior in social welfare, said she avoided much of the confusion of adjusting to campus life by discussing problems with her teachers and taking advice from her daughter who attended Johnson County Community College with her.
"People were extremely helpful if you asked them," she said. "I can't get back to age 18 or 20, but I sure can find out what there is to offer there."
Support services
Where non-traditional and transfer students can get help:
Student Assistance Center — 133
Strong Hill. B44-4044
111 Caruth-O'Leary, 864-6448
Veteran Certification/Residency application — 121 Strong, 864-4472
Veterans Commission of Kansas — 745 Vermont St., 843-5233
OAKS—Non-traditional students organization — organizations and Activities Center, Kansas Union, 864-7317 KU independent Care Referral Service
Legal Services — 148 Burge Union,
864-5665
B138 Office of Minority Affairs — 145
Strong. 864-4351
New Student Orientation --- 45 Strong
864.4270
Office of Admission, evaluation of transfer work - 126 Strong, 864 5136
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KANBAI