Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education A Quarterly Publication of ANTSHE
WINTER 2010
From the President’s Desk Welcome to our 2010 holiday edition of your Non-Trad Journal! Hopefully you are reading this edition while getting ready to take a break from the semester to enjoy the holiday season. At ANTSHE we are excited about the preparations for our 14th Annual Conference which will be held at Kennesaw State University in March 2011. Todd Powell, our host at Kennesaw, is busy with preparations for what we think will be one of our most successful conferences to date. You will read more about their preparations in this edition of The Journal. As of this writing online registration is up and running and can found here: http://www.kennesaw.edu/coned/2011antshe.html When you get back to campus after the break be sure to stay in touch and keep us in the loop on activities and efforts on behalf of your nontraditional student. As a member of ANTSHE you have full access to all the sharing platforms on MYANTSHE.ORG and can collaborate with other clubs and organizations. Be sure to update your profile so others may contact you and share ideas. There is a discussion board option that you may post which allows you to start a dialogue with others across the country. As we pass through this holiday season I hope you get the opportunity to take a break from your routines and share special time with those who are important in your life. Take advantage of your time away from your studies if you’re a student, enjoy the downtime the semester break affords if you are a professor, or just enjoy a quiet campus for the short time over this holiday break if you are on staff at a university or college! On behalf of your ANTSHE Board of Directors, we wish you the very Happiest Holiday Season! Stay in touch - stay connected; www.facebook.com/antshe www.myantshe.org
Jeffrey Bunnell President
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ANTSHE Annual Scholarships! Stephanie Siravotka-Marshall
The 2010-2011 Scholarship Winners are happy they applied! Rene Shroat-Lewis ~ recipient of the DeGabriele Graduate Scholarship Pamela Gil ~ recipient of the Kazimour Scholarship at a 4-year institution Amy Jordan ~ recipient of the Kazimour Scholarship at a 2-year institution
Marius ‘Gabe’ DeGabriele Scholarship for Graduate Students & Kazimour Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
APPLY TODAY! THE APPLICATION PACKET FOR 2011-2012 IS DUE JANUARY 15, 2011 AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.myantshe.org T H E N O N - T R A D J O U R N A L — HO L I DA Y E DI T I O N 20 1 0
2011 ANTSHE Conference Update by Flora Lowe-Rockett
The 14th Annual ANTSHE National Conference will be held on March 11th – 13th, 2011 at Kennesaw State University. The staff of Adult Learner Programs (ALP) and as the President of the Adult Learner Student Organization (ALSO) at Kennesaw State, we encourage you to join us for an exciting conference featuring a variety of speakers and presenters. The ANTSHE Conference Planning Committee has secured KSU Center as the location for the conference. KSU Center is one of the area’s premier facilities for conference and meeting space. All meeting rooms are equipped with built-in projection systems, wireless connections and sound systems. The theme for this year’s conference is: ―Diversity of Participation; Uniformity of Purpose.‖ ANTSHE is seeking proposals from academic professionals, leaders of nontraditional student organizations and adult learner related program coordinators. This is an excellent professional development opportunity and a chance to share ideas and experiences with peers and other persons in the field of higher education. Persons wishing to present at the conference can access the proposal form at: http://www.myantshe.org/Default.aspx?pageId=773871. Conference participants can register at: http://www.kennesaw.edu/coned/2011antshe.html. ―The conference planning committee has met twice and a tentative agenda has been formed. So far, we have received numerous proposals, commitments from speakers and are currently working out the details for an informative and entertaining event according to conference host, Todd Powell. Powell goes on to state, ―we hope that the attractive airfares and deals on lodging as low as $49.95 per night for this event will draw a large number of conference participants‖. We look forward to seeing you in Metro Atlanta for the14th Annual ANTSHE National Conference at Kennesaw State University.
Turning “No, You Can’t Do It” into a Degree Dr. R. Lee Viar IV
Take your average thirty-something male, three children, an Associate’s degree earned 15+ years earlier, and training your own managers because you don’t have a Bachelors degree. That was me, tired and frustrated, seeing my professional life pass me by, and going nowhere fast. After a buyout of the bank where I had worked for over seven years, and the subsequent loss of my job, I decided that if I wanted a better life for me and my children, I was the only one who could change it. I examined my options and kept coming back to the only logical decision there was; go back and finish my Bachelors degree. My previous educational experience was not the most enjoyable, but I felt it was necessary to return to college. This was not an easy decision and it took quite a bit of personal prodding to even call and make an appointment with an advisor. I remember making at least two appointments and cancelling each of them before committing myself to going. As I was walking into the college with my course catalog and transcripts in hand, I was overwhelmed by an unrelenting fear of failure. Nonetheless, when my appointment was over, I left with such a fire and drive to succeed that even the biggest obstacle could not have prevented me from earning my degree. Was this prompted by an inspiring conversation with the advisor about how the degree would open doors for me professionally? No. However, what the advisor did say, was one of the most inspirational and influential things that anyone ever told me…‖No, you can’t do it‖.
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At first, I sat there in astonishment. After asking him to repeat what he said, I asked him why he felt that way. He told me that a person my age with the responsibilities of a family and work, compounded with worries over how to pay for my courses since I didn’t qualify for grants or student loans, would become frustrated and quit. Discounting his advice, I proceeded to schedule a full load of courses, respectfully asked for his signature, and walked out totally indignant and determined to succeed! Fast forward two years. I was standing there in a cap and gown (with high honors) at my graduation ceremony, and as I walked up to this same advisor, I could still hear his words echoing in my ears. I recalled all of the struggles of my educational journey. I removed my cap, shook his hand, and thanked him for his words of encouragement from over two years ago. Never let anyone deter you from what you really want and need to do in order to provide for yourself and your family. More importantly, take whatever influence and support you receive, either positive or negative and allow it to motivate you to achieve your goals. By the way, I have since earned an MBA and a PhD in Education, and so can you! ================ Contact Information:
R. Lee Viar IV, PhD
Non-Traditional Student Recognition Week Kay Mitchell
Wow, the first week in November were exhausting and exhilarating for all of us as we came together and displayed our creativity to the surrounding communities just what Nontraditional students are all about. Universities and colleges across the nation focused their attention on showing how dedicated they are to their non-traditional students and the services they provide. The communities and students were treated to a veritable pantheon of delectable tidbits of brown bag lunches, informative workshops, movie nights, family nights, and a host of other delicacies ranging from services for the single parent, to services and scholarship workshops and informal gatherings for not only nontrad students but so that their peers can also taste the experience. This year’s Non-Trad Student Week saw a number of universities spreading the message about the importance of Non-traditional students. Universities such as SICU, SUNY – Cortland, UNC-Charlotte, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, to name a few. Now that you have seen what they can do and how non-traditional students can impact the community ,what can your organization do? If you have a craving add to this list, to add your voices to Non-Trad Week then ask yourself, in the immortal words of John F. Kennedy “Ask not what your organization can do for you, but what you can do for your organization!” Maybe we’ll see you next year.
Our 2010 Promotional Flyer
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Non-Traditional Student Recognition Week 2010! November 7 - 13, 2010 ANTSHE is proud to announce its annual nationwide celebration of Non-traditional Students in Higher Education. Institutions and members are encouraged to plan events to recognize the nontraditional students on their campus, as well as highlight efforts that improved their adult student environment. Our National Non-Traditional Student Week is held the first full week of November each year. Your ideas for celebrations are only limited by your own imagination. We encourage everyone to share these ideas on our listserv's via OSU. If you are a member you may also share your ideas via http://myantshe.org We want to know what YOU are doing! ANTSHE will select the best celebration of those submitted for special recognition on our website, and they will also receive an award at our annual conference in March. If you are a member of ANTSHE and would like us to high-
ANTSHE AWARDS PROGRAM ANTS Award ATOM ANT Award Brick Award National Treasure Award The ANTSHE Award Program is used to recognize those members who go above and beyond in support of their campus organization, their university nontrad program, or support national programs and initiatives supportive of nontraditional students. Each award is unique in its application so be sure to read the descriptions before submitting someone. Award submission are reviewed by committee and selectees and winner are recognized at our annual conference in March 2010. Nominate here : www.antshe.org/awardsandscholarhips/awards
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 2010 Board of Directors Meetings
3rd Monday of every month
Executive Committee Meetings
3rd Monday every other month
November
1-6
Non-Traditional Student Recognition Week
18—31
Celebrations Typical holiday break on campus
31
End of Nomination Period for ANTSHE elections
January
10-30
ANTSHE elections/candidate pages posted Elections ballot mail-out
February
1-15 16 11-13
Membership voting period Elections results certified and announced 14th Annual Conference @ Kennesaw State!
December
March
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Protected Class Status for Veterans Submitted by John Mikelson A White Paper on
Protected Class Status for Veterans J. Eldon Yates Douglas Herrmann Vietnam Veterans Institute College Educators for Veterans Higher Education
Discrimination against veterans has legal, ethical and moral implications. Admiral John E. Gordon* recently addressed all three of these implications in his October presentation about the possible protected class status of veterans. The two authors of this white paper cannot address the legal implications of the possible protected class status of veterans because we do not have the appropriate legal background. However, as veterans we have legitimate views of the ethical and moral implicates of such status. Below we share our views in order to indicate our support to Admiral Gordon’s arguments in favor of the protected class status for veterans. We address current protected class status, the possibility of such status of other groups, and then the ethical and moral reasons for providing protected class status to veterans. Protected Class Status for Different Groups in General. Females, minority races, and those who practice minority sexual preferences are currently protected against discrimination. No doubt there are people who belong to other groups that need legal protection against discrimination. The poor, obese, deformed, and obviously ill are among the people who are also discriminated against on the basis of their characteristics. Discrimination Against Veterans. Veterans constitute another group that is discriminated against. However, veterans differ from other groups because veterans constitute the only group that protects the freedom of all the other groups. Ethically, veterans deserve protected class status on ethical and moral grounds. Anyone who is discriminated against on the basis of membership in a group has encountered a practice that is unethical because it is unfair. Unfair discrimination need not be intentional to be unfair. Rosa Parks was directed to sit in the back of a bus by people who did not recognize that their behavior was intentionally unfair. So, while it is currently legal for people in academia to discriminate against students who are veterans, such discrimination is unfair in the same way that discrimination against other groups is unfair in principal and legally unfair if the discrimination involves the current protected classes is unfair. Anyone who is discriminated against on the basis of membership in a group has encountered a practice is immoral in violating the ―golden rule.‖ Thus, discrimination against veterans is immoral in this sense. In addition, it is immoral to discriminate against veterans for a second reason that does not apply to any other group, including the current protected classes. Veterans have the characteristic of having devoted part of their life to protecting all groups in American society through serving in the military. Participation in the military involves risk. Some veterans acquire disabilities from service in peacetime. Others acquire disabilities from service during war. If someone saved someone from drowning in a public pool, we would admire the behavior of such a hero. If someone ignores a drowning person, this person’s behavior would be regarded as immoral. Veterans
Veterans Cont... John Mikelson (including service members) stand ready to save endangered persons. Thus, ignoring the contribution of veterans is immoral. Awarding protection to those who are saved but not to actual or potential saviors is doubly immoral. Few colleges and universities have policies that protect veterans from discrimination. At least one study indicated that no more than 10% held any policy of any strength against discrimination. Higher education might choose to establish a policy that prohibited discrimination at any higher educational institution. However, as Admiral Gordon has pointed out, enforcement of such a policy would be difficult to administer. If we want to keep our veterans from being subjected to discrimination in higher education, or in society in general, a law should be established that protects veterans as a class from discrimination. Why should we wait for this to be done? We call on our fellow Veterans Organizations to join our effort to support and foster legislation to assure protected class status for Veterans of the Armed Forces of United States of America. *Gordon, J. E. (2009) Protected Class Status and Veterans. Presented at the Conference for Improving the College Education of Veterans. College Educators for Veterans Higher Education, At the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, Washington, D.C. October 22.
Pinnacle (4-year) and Spire (2-year) are honor societies that recognize non-traditional students. With over 140 chartered institutions, Pinnacle and Spire are the fastest growing non-traditional honor societies. Contact us today for information explaining how you can recognize your outstanding non-traditional students through selection to membership in Pinnacle or Spire www.pinnaclespire.org/ T H E N O N - T R A D J O U R N A L — HO L I DA Y E DI T I O N 20 1 0
Holiday Meal from Gourmet Chef Gabe Gabe DeGabriele
Holiday Meal Cocktail Meatballs Vegetable Soup Cranberry Glazed Game Hens with Shrimp & Wild Rice Stuffing Green Beans with Bacon, Caramelized Onions, & Craisins Crescent Rolls Eggnog Flan —————————————————-
Cocktail Meatballs 1 package frozen meatballs 1 jar peach or apricot preserves 1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce 1 package dry onion soup mix In a medium sauté combine the preserves, soup mix, and chili sauce. Cook over medium-low heat for 5 – 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the meatballs and simmer uncovered for 10 – 15 minutes or until heated through. ——————–—-
Tomato Vegetable Soup 1 can (46 ounces) V 8 juice 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 packages (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables 1 can (10 ¾ ounce) Cream of Celery or Cream of Mushroom soup, undiluted Salt & Pepper to taste In a medium to large Dutch oven sauté the onion in a drizzle of olive oil until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute or two. Add the ground turkey and cook until the meat is well browned. Combine all remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and cook on medium high until heated through. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. ..cont. on page 14
Fear Factor~ William D. Tripp
Overcoming Nontraditional Fears. Animal House isn’t college. For nontraditional students (Nontrads) returning to the realm of academia, or even venturing into it for the first time, the exploits of John Belushi and his cohorts are the image of college they are most familiar with. While the fraternity/sorority aspect of college is still present, it is not something that most Nontrads will concern themselves with. The fear of ―fitting-in‖ and ―finding one’s place‖ are reserved for the younger generations for the most part. Most individuals have families, jobs, kids, and are pretty set. However, the fears of Nontrads run just as deep as incoming freshman and can have as great of an adverse effect on the college ―experience‖ as any social issue. My name is William D. Tripp and I am a writing instructor and the professional writing tutor for Southern Arkansas University Tech in East Camden, Arkansas. I assist students in all stages of the writing process, everything from brainstorming to final polish, MLA, APA, Chicago, and any other writing format a student might encounter. My most frequent consultations involve nontraditional students returning to/entering college with questions about their papers, essays, journals, or paragraphs. Almost every consultation starts off the same way. A nervous woman or man will hand me their paper, sit down, and before I even have time to read their name, begin explaining to me why the paper ―isn’t any good.‖ By this point, they have quit making eye contact and are staring at the floor or table. They apologize for wasting my time, tell me about how hectic their lives are, and some even go as far as to say that they shouldn’t even be here. This is all without me having read a single word! In the span of a minute, the student has shut themselves off, made themselves feel terrible, and now don’t feel like trying to improve their paper. This is the first, and largest, mistake I see nontraditional students making on a daily basis; you have to be confident in yourself and your ability to learn. Remember, you are at the institution to LEARN. If you already knew everything, they would just hand you a degree and send you on your merry way. Do not be afraid or ashamed of your skill level. There are classes that act as introductions to subjects and they are specially designed to bridge the gap between where you are and where you need to be. Believe it or not, most teachers really do care about how you are doing and will do whatever they can to help you. The same can be said for the tutors/consultants at your institution. (Yes, I really do enjoy my job!) If you go to these individuals with an open-mind, good attitude, and a willingness to work, you will be surprised how much you learn, retain, and take away to use. Another major concern for nontraditional students is the assumed gap between themselves and the traditional students entering into college. As mentioned above, this is not always a social issue. A number of the Nontrads I have encountered feel that they are ―behind the times,‖ are not aware of current issues, and won’t be able to relate to their classmates in an academic setting. I do my best to stress to these individuals that everyone entering into college is in the same boat. Whether you are an 18-year-old freshman, or a 60-year-old grandmother, you are going to be nervous. You are going to feel inadequate on occasion, and there are going to be things that you are not aware of or do not know. I promise you, speaking from experi-
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Nontrad Fears cont... ence, that traditional students feel the same way when they look at you. I had actual business men in a number of my undergraduate marketing classes. These were successful people with careers. During class discussion, it was difficult to present an opposing opinion to figures such as these. They had all the experience and I had just read the chapter last night! Remember this as you sit in class. You have life experience and worldly wisdom that might be intimidating to others. The best kind of classes occur when the traditional and nontraditional students recognize each other’s worth and work together for the greater knowledge of the class as a whole. The final concern a number of nontraditional students have is simple: computers. This is something that I find to be a constant problem for Nontrads. This is not to say that you should feel at fault, or guilty, for a lack of computer knowledge; you should just be aware of it and work at it like you would any other class. View your difficulties as an opportunity to learn without having to pay for another class. (Though there are computer classes at most universities.) Understand that you are going to have difficulties, but that they are acceptable. I would recommend finding tutorial programs or software to assist you. I have sat with many students who couldn’t use a word processor efficiently, and as such, poured many more hours into an assignment than was necessary. If you are not taking classes during the summer, this is a great time to get a little extra work in. If you have children, go to them and ask them to help you. A more radical approach is to start using social networking sites. Participating in this activity will allow you to become more comfortable with your computer and your keyboard. It allows for you to tutor yourself without it actually feeling like work. Once you start to see improvement in your typing, writing, and editing ability, this will add to your confidence. As we all know, confidence is key. I have had the opportunity to work with a number of gifted nontraditional students during my time as an instructor and tutor. Though some were lacking ability and skills in certain areas, they more than made up for it in others. Once they realized that they had something to contribute and that they could learn what they needed, they began to really enjoy their academic experience. Realize that everyone has something different to give, and that everyone takes something away. Regardless of age, we are all still students. Be confident and give yourself a chance to succeed. Follow the advice above and see if your experience isn’t a little more enjoyable. College is not Animal House, and it doesn’t have to be crazy. ============== William D. Tripp, Southern University Tech akilleez54@yahoo.com
...Holiday Meal Cont... Gabe
Cranberry Glazed Game Hens with Shrimp & Wild Rice Stuffing 4 Cornish Game Hens 1 box Wild Rice mix (I use 2 boxes for 4 people) ¼ pound salad shrimp 1 can jellied cranberry sauce Honey Salt, pepper, garlic powder Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Clean (rinse inside & out) the hens and dry thoroughly. Season inside and out with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Prepare the rice mix according to package direction. When the rice is done stir in the shrimp and allow to heat through. Stuff the hens with the wild rice mixture. (If you prefer to cook the hens without the stuffing in them you can stuff them after they’re cooked or serve the stuffing on the side) In a small saucepan over medium heat melt the jellied cranberry. Add honey to taste, stir to combine. Set aside over low heat stirring frequently. The cranberry glaze will not melt to a liquid form. Roast in the center of the oven for 1 – 1 ¼ hours (to desired degree of doneness). After 30 minutes brush the hens with the cranberry glaze and return to the oven. Repeat every 15 – 20 minutes until the hens are done. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 – 10 minutes. ——————————————-
Green Beans with Bacon, Caramelized & Craisins
Onions,
5 slices bacon, diced 1 medium onion, chopped ½ cup craisins 1 large can green beans In a medium saucepan brown the bacon over medium high heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Reduce the heat slightly and add the onions, sauté until they begin to caramelize (light brown). Reduce the heat to low and add the green beans (with liquid), craisins, and bacon. Mix well and simmer until the beans are heated through. —————————————— Need Eggnog with that -see page 21 T H E N O N - T R A D J O U R N A L — HO L I DA Y E DI T I O N 20 1 0
ANTSHE Election 2011! Jeff Bunnell
We are in the middle of our election cycle and there are many positions open for nomination. Here are few reasons you should think about getting more involved with us:
Get to work with other directors to make a positive difference for students across the country within a national nonprofit
OPEN POSITIONS
President
Vice President
Work directly with nontrad students and collaborate on programs of support
Secretary
Make a positive difference and work to provide support for ANTSHE members
Finance Officer
―Doing good while doing well‖— supporting those in need with scholarships and programs
Communications
Advocating for support on a national level for adult learners and nontrads of all types
Scholarship Officer
Membership Officer
Student Member 2
Each position on the Board of Directors is unique but there are some common responsibilities such as:
Monthly Board of Directors meetings held online each 3rd Monday (Online PC required)
Position responsibilities (listed @ www.antshe.org/elections)
Support quarterly newsletter with timely and interesting articles
Attendance to our national conference each March
Two year commitment
If you want more information please call Jeffrey Bunnell @ 360.545.3539 or email president@antshe org
Do you have a topic you’d like ANTSHE to cover? Would you like to share information with other non-traditional students and professionals who work with non-traditional students? Want to share ideas and stories for events? Let us know! E-mail your ideas, suggestions, or articles to us at communicationofficer@antshe.org
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From Machinist to Manager Michael Ammons
My name is Michael Ammons and I am a non-traditional student. In 2004 I began an accelerated one-night-a-week adult degree program at Mount Olive College. At the time I was working as a machinist at Premium Standard Farms and had been doing so since 1997 when I earned my AAS degree in Machining Technology from Fayetteville Technical Community College. Previously I have worked as a customer service representative, farm associate, deli worker, welder, industrial mechanic, and Morse systems operator with the United States Air Force. It was not until I completed my BS degree in Business Administration from Mount Olive College that my professional career began to turn around. About 6 months before I was to graduate, I was offered a position as an Income Maintenance Caseworker at the Department of Social Services for Sampson County in North Carolina. From there I went on to become the Assistant Director of Evening College Admissions at Mount Olive College. Currently I am serving as the Director of Evening College Admissions. I am so thankful that colleges and universities are offering more and more degree programs for non-traditional students because if it had not been for schools such as Mount Olive College, I would not been able to fulfill my lifelong dream of earning my bachelors degree. With the success that I have achieved from my undergraduate studies, I decided to continue on with my academic development and went on to earn an MBA from Liberty University in 2008 through distance learning. This degree enabled me to become at Adjunct Instructor of Business at North Carolina Wesleyan Col-
lege and Mount Olive College. For the past year, I have been teaching adult students and sharing with them my personal story and how education can create opportunities that would other wise may have not been available. I am passionate about education and after years of trying to find my way professionally, I have discovered that the field of education is where I can have the greatest impact. From my passion and desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others, I am currently enrolled in the doctoral of education program at Liberty University with plans of graduating in 2012. My ultimate goal is to become a full-time faculty member at a college or university, hopefully teaching courses for adult students. ================================
ANTSHE congratulates Michael on his academic success and we thank him for sharing his personal story with us. We look forward to hearing about his completion of the Ph.D. program and look forward to calling him ―Dr.‖ Ammons (Ph.D) !
Do you a personal success story you would like to share with others? We want to hear from you! Please forward your story (500 words) in a .doc format to our Editorial Board for consideration. E-mail your story to communications @antshe.org!
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ANTSHE @ NACADA Jeffrey Bunnell
For the 4th year in a row ANTSHE hosted an exhibitors table at NACADA! A side benefit of attending this year was we got to visit Mickey as the conference was held a Disney World in Florida! This annual 4 day event host members of the National Academic Advising Association and is a well attended event. Over 3000 academic professionals were in there and the vendor hall was busy all 4 days during our exhibit! ANTSHE hosts table each year to gain exposure among the academic professionals that serve our student members and member campuses on a day to day basis. These important counselors and advisor's deal with a large demographic of students, but of course, the most important are the non-traditional students on their campus! During the week we advocate for nontrads and show those who ask how programs of support can make a difference on their campus. A lot of people asked and our table was busy all week! We made a lot of important contacts while we were there and made new friends (and potential ANTSHE members) as well. We would like to thank NACADA Executive Director Charlie Nutt for selecting us as one the outstanding organizations attending and for formally recognizing us at the opening keynote ceremony. This year I had the pleasure of sharing this week of hosting with fellow Board of Director member Mrs. Sherry Rochester-Murray. Sherry took time away from her busy home schedule in nearby Kissimmee to co-host the ANTSHE table all week. I think she enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about our processes a long the way. I appreciated the time and effort Sherry gave to ANTSHE during the week and I thank her for making the time to join me in our efforts representing ANTSHE. All in all it was another successful showing for ANTSHE. See you in the mile high city soon, as next years NACADA is in Denver!
Let us know! E-mail your ideas, suggestions, or articles to us at studentcoord@antshe.org!
See a wide range of ANTSHE logo products on our new online store! Buy logo shirts for your Nontrad club, coffee mugs, and other ANTSHE material shipped directly to you. A portion of each sale goes to support the ANTSHE Scholarship Fund.!
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The Seven Dead Synonyms for the Ones We Serve Donna Minkley What’s in a name? In some cultures a name portends a child’s future or acts as a tribute to the past. A name can conjure up unpleasant images based on evil historical personas or goodness and mercy in the case of others. Over time society has changed the names of groups, ethnicities, and tribes in an effort to be more correct and descriptive, and of course less offensive. Occupations have become gender neutral and titles are changed to remove social stigmas. Yesterday’s janitor is today’s environmental technician. When it comes to non-traditional students, there doesn’t seem to be any consistency in the vernacular of higher education or the professionals who work therein.
What is the proper name for Non-traditional students and why do we have so many choices? There are many different kinds of post secondary students some are degree seeking and some are just looking for personal enrichment. Others are trying to finish their high school diploma or gain specific skills to advance their career. It is probable this diversity of student types contributes to the Tower of Babel-like confusion in our language when discussing or defining these students. Let’s take a look at eight possible terms and what the mean in my world. Adult Students-many use this term but this does not capture our unique group of students because technically anyone over 18 is an adult and there is little in common between most 18-21 year old adult students and non-trads. The 18-21 year olds don’t usually invite non-trads to their ―adult‖ college parties… they are all adults but they are definitely not the same. Adult learners- learning is not the same as degree seeking and this term implies learning only the things one wants to learn and not struggling through statistics or advanced algebra at age 35. This term should be saved for the personal enrichment crowd who are taking Italian for travelers on Wednesdays nights and not getting credits. Life-long learners-see adult learners above enough said. Commuter students-what the heck is this supposed to mean? Any student that drives or takes the bus is a commuter student; besides it sounds like your studying commuting and what institution has a degree in commuting? For that matter who would want one? Older Wiser Learners- OWLS this term is nice and certainly captures the essence of our constituency but many of these students don’t want to be reminded they’re ―older‖ and certainly there are plenty of professionals serving them who don’t want to be reminded of it either. Returning students- returning from what exactly? Their Italian vacation? Are they going to France next? Time for another language class? Je voudrais le poulet, sil vous plait. Adult non-traditional students-ANTS what’s not to love about the hard working ant? These little insects can lift 20 times their body weight and are a great mascot for these students who often feel like they are carrying more than they can handle. However, ―adults‖ once again are 18 years old and tend to act more like grasshoppers than ants. Non-traditional students- this term works because it captures the indefinable nature of these students by describing not what they are but what precisely they are NOT. A traditional student enters higher education immediately after high school. They take ACT and SAT tests , write entrance essays and live in dorm rooms. They are single, dependant on their parents and claimed by them on their taxes. They usually do not work full time and perhaps not at all during the school year. They have opportunities for sports and academic scholarships and maybe recruited to their institution. They are not parents and are not in the middle of a career change because they have been downsized by their previous employer after 10 years. Traditional students have not recently returned from a foreign war with battle scars and a chance that they will be called back to active duty before they obtain their degree. Traditional students are not limited by location they are unfettered by spouses, children, and employers, mortgages and bills. It is the precise definition of ―traditional college student‖ and all that it entails that makes the term ―non-traditional
student‖ so powerful and descriptive. It is clear concise and easily grasped by higher ed professionals and the students themselves. Just describe traditional college student characteristics to a non-trad and they begin to shake their heads,‖ no…that is not me‖. I suppose this is why the founders of ANTSHE chose the term to describe the one’s we serve and after 7 years of personal affiliation with ANTSHE I confess I completely agree with them. In the end the institutions of higher learning will settle on the vocabulary of their vocations and student services, advising and activities offices all across the country will acquiesce and conform to the appropriate term. I strongly encourage all professionals to follow the lead of ANTSHE and support and utilize the term non-traditional student. Whichever expression persists I will always think of myself as a non-traditional student with all the OWL and ANT qualities coupled with a lifelong love of learning. I will probably return to school one day and commute to campus for my master’s degree on adult non-traditional student education. Oh the irony. ;)
Holiday Meal cont…. Eggnog Flan ½ cup sugar /6 eggs / 6 tablespoons sugar / 1 cup milk / 1 cup eggnog / 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place 4 custard cups in a rectangular cake pan. Add enough hot water to come about half way up the sides of the custard cups. Remove and dry the custard cups and place the cake pan (with water) in the preheated oven. In a small frying pan over medium heat, melt the ½ cup sugar. To melt evenly shake and tilt the frying pan rather than stir the sugar. Once melted the sugar will caramelize quickly. Carefully pour the caramel into the custard cups and swirl to cover the bottom and sides. Whisk together the eggs and 6 tablespoons sugar. Add the milk, eggnog, and vanilla. Divide evenly between the custard cups. Carefully set the filled custard cups into the water bath. Bake for about 25 - 35 minutes or until a butter knife inserted into the center comes out clean. If the tops of the custard begins to brown cover loosely with foil. Remove from water bath and allow to cool slightly. Transfer to refrigerator and chill for 4 – 6 hours. When you’re ready to serve run a butter knife around the sides of the custard cup. Invert on serving plate.
2009-2010 Board of Directors Contact List:
ANTSHE is an international partnership of students, academic professionals, institutions, and organizations whose mission is to encourage and coordinate support, education, and advocacy for the adult learner.
WWW.ANTSHE.ORG
“Together We CAN Make a
President
Jeffrey Bunnell
president@antshe.org
Vice President
Donna Minkley
vicepresdent@antshe.org
Communications Officer
Cricket Bonnetaud
Secretary
Kay Mitchell
Conference Officer
Sandy McLelland
Scholarship Officer
Stephanie Sirovatka-Marshall
Veterans Affairs
John Mikelson
Student Coordinator
Kristian Alton
Student Member
communications@antshe.org secretary@antshe.org conferenceofficer@antshe.org scholarshipofficer@anthse.org
Sherry Rochester-Murray
veteransaffair@antshe.org studentcoord@antshe.org studentrep3@antshe.org
Difference”
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