degrees of separation

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adult program Maintains individualized attention

There are nearly 1,300 undergraduates in Mary baldwin’s adult degree program (adp), but the program’s continued focus on customized goal-setting ensures that each student feels like he or she could be one of the initial eight who enrolled more than 35 years ago.

“the advisor-student relationship is the prime reason i chose Mary baldwin,” said american studies major and special education minor James eavey. “My advisor understands the complexities of balancing the demands of life and school. despite her busy schedule, i never feel like an inconvenience.” one-on-one attention is not just touted by adp advisors, it is inseparable from their daily work. the recently updated website highlights several examples of how personal interaction redefined students’ paths or helped them through difficult situations.

“when adult students decide to further their education, they deserve the education they want, not just what is available,” said lallon pond, director of the adult degree program and associate dean of the college. “our program cannot be all things to all people, but we have more choices and people who are willing to work with students to understand their options. a student who pursues the education he or she wants will be more engaged and will more readily learn the critical skills that our liberal arts education offers.” expanding adp’s geographic reach with 11 regional centers throughout the state and the decision this year to offer the program to men and women who are 18 and older — lowering the age requirement from 21 — have brought in new pools of adult learners, but not at the expense of meaningful guidance. the key, said pond: listening. Mary baldwin’s long tradition of face time persists, even as the program incorporates more online and distancelearning course formats.

“a lot of people, like me, tend to think that there is only one way to arrive at that degree,” said student Mariah Jenkins. “My advisor opened up alternatives for me and gave me options when i thought i had none.” some students most value how quickly they can earn a degree, for others the deciding factor is price, or flexibility of class schedules, or available majors, pond said. each reason sets students on different paths toward earning a college degree.

“our objective is and always has been to bring education to those people for whom the ‘traditional’ classroom model does not work,” pond said.

Web Refresh »

adult degree program student testimonials, credit transfer information, regional center offerings and application deadlines have an updated look at www.mbc.edu/adultdegree. two years after their own graduation from Mary baldwin college, members of the class of 2011 left their mark with a class gift — an ornate walnut lectern — which was used for the first time at the college’s 171st commencement in May. “we wanted the gift to be something that would be used and remembered for years to come … something that would be special and had never been done before,” said class of 2011 president candace Klementowicz, who attended the event. taylor & boody organbuilders of swoope — the company that created the mace and baton carried by faculty marshals at commencement — designed and crafted the ceremonial lectern from black walnut lumber donated by Margaret churchman Moffett ’47 from her augusta county farm. the piece includes a detailed college seal framed by panels decorated with relief carvings of walnut branches, leaves, and nuts. on each side are columns that echo the architecture of Mary baldwin’s historic campus, and a life-sized squirrel at the base of one column nods to the college mascot.

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