From the Commission Chair

How time flies when you are having fun and working hard. I'm sorry to say that I will be concluding my term as Commission Chair at the end of this year's conference in Dallas. Serving in this position has been a wonderful experience as I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with so many interesting and diverse members of the Adult Learner Commission from around the country and Canada as well. The tremendous commitment and talents possessed by advisors of adult learners is really compelling. I have found that advisors who work with this population are truly invested in their work and I believe this is partially due to the appreciation they receive from their students.

At any rate, the relationship between adult learners and their advisors is certainly a special one for both parties and it is really nice to have the opportunity to network and share ideas, questions and concerns with each other through the Adult Learner Commission of NACADA. We have a strong unit within NACADA and I am sure that we can continue to strengthen our relationships and work of the commission to assist our members in being the best advisors they can be.

I am also thankful to the leadership of NACADA for their guidance and support. I believe the work of the entire organization is very worthwhile and that we have competent leaders to continue developing the organization. Taking my place in the fall will be Don Sebera, from Ohio University. Don will be taking over at an exciting time as the organization's new structure and its commitment to its members has been renewed through a long and thoughtful planning process. Good luck to Don in his efforts.

I hope you can join us in Dallas this fall for the national conference. We will have a variety of activities and sessions available to interest advisors of adult learners. Be sure to check out the Adult Learner Commission website on the NACADA main page for information about this year's activities at the conference. Also, there is a good deal of information and resources to assist you on the website. If you haven't seen the site lately, please take a moment to check it out. There is also information about how to join the commission list serve as well. The list serve is a great way to get feedback on your questions and concerns in a timely manner.

Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has assisted and supported me in my work as Commission Chair and I hope to see you at the conference this October. Be sure to sign up for the conference and book your accommodations early, as they tend to go fast. Please have a safe and enjoyable summer and recharge your engines for the upcoming academic year.

Farewell,

Kenn Skorupa, Commission Chair
Assistant Director, Adult Distance Advising

School for New Learning
DePaul University
Phone: (312) 362-5794
kskorupa@depaul.edu

Adult Learner Events at National Conference

For those interested in networking with commission members during the our conference in Dallas, Thursday, October 2nd to Sunday, October 5th, there will be several opportunities to do so. As you know, the conference begins with a keynote speaker and reception on the evening of October 2nd. This is usually your first opportunity to meet with colleagues and plan your schedule for the next several days.

On the morning of Wednesday, October 3rd, the day begins with Continental Breakfast and the Commission Fair. This event offers the opportunity to meet with members of the commission and to pick up information about the events at the conference for each commission. Please stop by the Adult Learner booth and get an updated agenda of events of the commission for the conference.

There are six presentations that are sponsored by the Adult Learner Commission that occur throughout the conference. In addition, there are a number of other worthwhile presentations that have described themselves as being applicable for advisors of adult learners. Each of these sessions are listed on the Adult Learner website, in the conference materials and will be provided on the agenda circulated at the each of the commission sponsored activities.

On the evening of Wednesday, October 3rd, the Adult Learner Commission will sponsor a Round Table Discussion on the topic of "Biggest Concerns of Adult Learners." The round table discussion will be part of a larger effort by NACADA to provide an opportunity to discuss such issues during a common time slot in a large meeting place. Therefore, if you wish to participate in several discussions, you may do so at that time.

The Adult Learner Commission Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 4th during the 1:45 presentation time slot. This year's meeting will focus on brainstorming some ideas on content that we can add to our commission web site that would be useful for advisors of adult learners. If you have any ideas on content to add to the website, would like to share any information or ask some questions, please attend the commission meeting. This is also a great place to meet with other advisors who work in both similar and diverse environments in terms of institution size, location and mission.

Later that day, Saturday, October 4th, after the NACADA Awards ceremony, will be a reception at approximately 5:15, followed by some entertainment beginning around 7:00pm. Beginning at the reception and extending into the entertainment portion of the evening, members of the commission will gather to socialize and enjoy the evening. We will meet at a designated location near the reception and secure some space to congregate and talk. We will probably have a sign to identify ourselves and will indicate our meeting place on the commission agenda that will be handed out at all of the commission sponsored events.

So, the conference should be a great time to meet, network and share your joys and frustrations, your ideas and questions, and most of all, a chance to re-energize yourself. Please plan to attend some of the commission sponsored events and to pick up a commission agenda while you are there.

Introduction of Don Sebera, Incoming Commission Chair

It is with great excitement that I have the opportunity to introduce myself to you, as the chair-elect of the Adult Learner Commission. I hope to give you a brief insight into what I bring to the commission and what I hope for us to accomplish during my tenure.

I have worked with adult learners for seven years, both as an on-campus advisor, and in my current position as an Academic Advisor within the Independent and Distance Learning Programs at Ohio University. As an adult learner, I had the opportunity to develop an appreciation for challenges facing our students. I believe my experience was a catalyst for my professional interests in working with this population.

I believe that effective communication, while vital to our role in promoting adult learner success, is just as vital in advancing our development as professional advisors.  I am confidant that through a continuous exchange of ideas--electronically through list serves and on-line newsletters, through printed materials, through phone conversations, and, most importantly and enjoyably, through face-to-face contacts at state, regional, and national conferences--we can continue to strengthen our commitment to ensuring that adult learners receive the best advising services.

It is my sincere hope that I will have the opportunity to meet and interact with each of you over the next two years, and beyond. I believe we can develop on-going dialogues that will encourage each of you to remain not only members of NACADA and our commission, but encourage you to be an active member. We as advisors often refer to Vincent Tinto's work related to the level of involvement and persistence with students. I believe the same is true for advisors. Working together, we can increase our involvement within the Commission, and the Association, for the benefit of students and the advising profession.

Don Sebera

Ohio University

E-mail: sebera@ohio.edu

Phone: (740) 539-0018