Summary of Ways to Recognize Adult Learners during National Non-Traditional Student Week

(generated from list serve discussion on 11/15/07 -- this list was edited to contain only the events that were successful, or have the potential for success, on each campus.)

(SUNY Cortland)

• Informal discussions with a professional from the counseling center about “How high is your bar?”.
• Open house in Non-Traditional Students Lounge. Serve soup, bread, chips and dessert.
• Sandwich seminar for campus community titled “Who Are Our Non-Trads.” .
• Scholarships presentation by a representative from Financial Aid, who discussed their website and how to search for scholarships.
• Hold a “Nominate-a-Non-Trad” campaign and informal dessert reception.
• Free passes for non-trads and their families to attend a women’s ice hockey game.
• Family event - free chance to climb the campus rock wall.

(Middle Tennessee State University)

• Older Wiser Learners (OWLs) holds an open house for faculty and staff to learn more about our nontraditional students. Hot cider and home-made goodies are served.
• A table is staffed outside the cafeteria to promote OWLs. Small puffy owls are given out as a souvenir for nontrad students who stop by.
• A traditional potluck holiday dinner is held for students, spouses and children, and during the dinner new Pinnacle members are initiated into the nontraditional student honor society and awards are given to December graduating seniors.

(Rollins College)

• At the Holt School of Rollins College, staff and advisers put up tables around campus and pass out bags of candy, pencils and bookmarks – it is called “Holt Appreciation Week.”

(Moraine Valley)

• Before evening classes, the campus staffed “Welcome Stations” and served coffee, sandwiches, cookies; also had giveaways and raffle prizes, an Adult Newsletter, and other information for students. Students are asked to fill out surveys to give us feedback on how we could better serve their needs.
• “Celebrating Our Non-Traditional Students” buttons are handed out
• A shopping evening, with over 30 vendors including some specific to men like sports memorabilia and woodworks. Great way to do Christmas shopping without having to fight the crowds at the malls. Each vendor donated a raffle prize and each student got free raffle tickets. Charged staff $1 a ticket and donated that money to the student scholarship fund. 4.
• Basketball night, advertised as Family Night with freebies to giveaway to all students, who identified themselves as adult students.
• Posters/signage throughout campus recognizing our students.
• Adult learner newsletter, highlighting the week’s activities as well as stories of inspiration, quick dinner recipes, timesaving tidbits, a letter to a spouse on how to assist your returning student, etc.
• A career counseling session

(Carbon Country Higher Education Center)

• Serve pizza to all the classes
• One day provide snacks all day long, a big bowl of many different kinds of crackers, cookies, chips

(Ancilla College)

• Held an essay and math contest for book vouchers and gave the students a chance to converse with the president and dean.
• Students were allowed to bring an adult friend to class if space in the classroom was available and the instructor willing.
• Held a meditation session prior to finals week.

(Christina Brothers University)

• Hang a “Non-Traditional Student Week” banner
• Offer the students coffee and cupcakes
• Rent a popcorn machine and have advisors greet students.
• As a Catholic university, the Christian Brothers designed a prayer especially for our adult students. Postcards were distributed with the prayer in one side and a message from the Dean in the other side, saying how much we appreciate them.

(St. Ambrose University – evening and weekend program)

• Sponsored monthly Bagel Friday
• Had a banner made and hung it in front of our door for the week.
• Each night we had popcorn and candy; on Saturday we had donuts and bagels for the students.
• Gave each student a university travel mug, stuffed full of goodies donated from other departments and programs; also tucked inside each mug was a note:

“St. Ambrose and the College for Professional Studies congratulate you for your hard work and the commitment you have made to your education! Most all of us have also been non-traditional students, and understand the difficulties you face daily to keep your education a top priority! It is time you are recognized!”

• Solicited the campus community for door prizes and held nightly drawings.
• Tied Non-Trad Week into the first week of registration by holding extra drawings for all students who used on-line registration.

(Marquette University)

• Held a celebration during Saturday lunch period between classes, which included a meal and raffle (gas cards, $100 bookstore gift cards, school paraphernalia, Endnote bibliographic software, basketball tickets, movie passes, grocery store gift cards, and our grand prize was a $250 VISA card – things students could really use).
• Depending on our budget, next year we’re already thinking about raffling off an iPod and/or a laptop and reducing the number of prizes overall.
• In future years, will concentrate on advertising students’ support networks
• Alums and current students have always helped in the planning of the event; alums return to share success stories and inspirational words to our students and this year we even had a faculty member give a touching speech about his own educational journey.

(Western Connecticut State University)

• Held a “coffee kick-off,” serving coffee and donuts in the Student Center on both campuses
• Mid-week “lunch on the go” (boxed lunch) was the greatest success
• “National Non-Traditional Student Week” banner hung in the Student Center to create awareness