Providing a Freshman Seminar Course for

Nontraditional Students

NACADA Region 10Albuquerque, NM

March 1, 2011

Presenter Introduction

• Nontraditional student• Single mom• First generation• Underprepared• Graduated in 2007• Currently advisor for

many nontraditional students

University Connections (USU 1010)• Spin-off From Traditional Course• Ten-Week Course• Two Graded Credits• Target Areas of Concern• Build Confidence• Create Network and Unity

Nontraditional Student Defined

• Traditional student definition (easy)

• Nontraditional student definition (complicated)

• My definition . . . . .

Traditional Students

• The “traditional” college student is easy to define: just transitioning from teen to adult, these students graduate from high school, live at college, attend classes full-time, and graduate with a degree four years later.

• Many have their education paid for by scholarships, financial aid, or parents and do not need to worry about funding their education.

Nontraditional Students

• Nontraditional students are full-time employees and full-time parents; military personnel and veterans; stay-at-home moms and home-schooled students.

• They go to school part-time and full-time, online and in the classroom. The only quality they share is that they’re typically older than the “traditional” student.

Nontraditional Demographics

• Gap in Education• Married Parents• Single Parents• Veterans• Vocational Rehabilitation• First Generation• Multicultural• Unemployed, under-employed,

job at risk

Characteristics of Entering Nontraditional Freshman• Nervous• Low self-confidence• Financial stress• No extra time to get involved

on campus• Feel alone• Feel old• Feel completely clueless• Find it difficult to meet people

Barriers to Success• Family circumstances• Financial difficulties• Employment• Health and wellness• Underprepared• Caring for children• Relearning how to study• Remembering everything• Feeling alone• Inadequate computer skills

Meet a few members of my class

Course Outline Highlights• Computer & technical overview• Time management/goal setting• Balancing work, school, family, personal time• Campus resources & tour• Library resources & tour• Policies & procedures• Health & wellness with family focus• Managing stress & building confidence• Family finances & financial aid• Major requirements and degree plans• Academic skills• Nontraditional Student Organization

Course Strong Points

• Learning about campus resources

• General education requirements

• Get answers easily about other classes as well

• Academic planning• Informal forum for

problems and concerns

Course Weak Points

• Organization of subjects– Academic resources first

• Organizing groups to attend campus events– Intimidating to go alone

• More detailed tours of campus and student resources

Marketing the Course

• Nontraditional SOAR• Flyer• University advisors• Email to new students• Clearer distinction T/NT• Point more from website• Youtube (like traditional)

Student Testimonials

• “I loved the format of this class. As a 26-year-old professional, I would not have liked being in a class with thirty 18-year-olds. Yet I need this information more than they do.”

– Jennifer Wagstaff

Student Testimonial

• “It has helped me to realize that I am not the only one that has problems like feeling old or alone. I feel like I already have a support group of my peers.”

– Matthew Stevenson

Student Testimonial

• “My brother is a nontrad student at (another Utah University) and he had to figure out all of this stuff on his own. I learned more about USU in the first four weeks than he learned in his whole first year.”

– Janelle M. Secklestewa

Presenter Information

Vicky Pope Academic Advisor

Utah State Universityvicky.pope@usu.edu

With honorable mention to the USU 1010 class members