C O V E R S T O RY
SNHU offers money-saving tuition options for students
A Matter of Choice Liz Francis has struggled with epileptic seizures since high school. Medication helped, but over time became less effective. Two years ago, she had a grand mal seizure while driving and crashed her car. When she came to, all her memories of the previous six years – from after her 19th birthday to the age of 26, and including everything she learned in college – had vanished. Last year, Francis had a right temporal lobectomy that removed a fist-sized piece of her brain to stop the seizures. Though her body and mind are still recovering, she couldn’t wait to start college again. “I was so tired of being stuck at home. For a year and a half I really didn’t do anything but go to the doctor and go to the grocery store,” she said. “Yes, I’ve Liz Francis
had a hell of a hard time with brain surgery and my physical being, but I’ve come out on top.” Now 27, Francis is earning her associate degree through the new SNHU Advantage Program, designed for students seeking lower-cost tuition or an alternative to the traditional college experience. It’s different this time around. Sometimes she forgets assignments and even whole conversations. School used to be “a breeze”; now she struggles in her basic math course. She sometimes gets frustrated and wonders if she jumped in too soon. But in the Advantage program, she’s also getting the support she needs. “That’s been the wonderful thing about Southern New Hampshire University – everyone is so willing to help,” she said. “Everyone I’ve encountered – Hyla (Jaffe) in disability services, financial aid, my professors – they’re willing to bend over backwards to help you succeed, and I think that’s amazing.”
The Extra Mile | Fall 2009 | 19