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| At the University of Kansas, we staffed an
information table all week, including an easel board to get contributions
of the "You Know You're a Nontrad When..." variety (copies of
the contributions are attached)! We also gave away "Thoughts
for the Day", also called: "Things that make you go
'Hmmm'"...quotations from Webster's Quotation Dictionary on brightly
colored paper cut, folded, and placed in a candy jar, including a variety
of topics related to our nontraditional population: age, children,
marriage, veteran/military, commuting, persistence, and diverse cultures;
some that were generally inspirational, dealt with education/learning, or
were area of study-related, as well as presidential quotes. The source and
author notations gave this an academic element, and it was certainly a
useful conversation starter with nontrads and "trads" alike.
Each day we had a series of 1/2 hour to 1-hour
programs/workshops from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. approximately covering an
extended lunch hour in or near the main cafeteria. Topics included several
related to career planning (Internet Job-Seeking Resources for the Nontrad,
Winning Resumes for Adult Career Seekers, Interviewing Skills Make a
Difference), due to the fact that this coincided with the National Career
Development Week. Other topics covered specific student services (Child
Care Resources, Writing Resources) and/or discussed ideas for developing
new programs (Student Union Activities Programming with/for Nontrads). We
also repeated an earlier program: the nontraditional
"Meet-A-Professor" brown bag lunch and a nontraditional student
panel; the latter program was not surprisingly attended by only staff
members (nontrads do not need to hear others tell how busy they are!). I
am certain this helped to raised awareness of needs among those who do
want to target more programming to the nontraditional population.
On Friday, we had two special events: that afternoon was
the 3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation Reception, at which Pat Roberts, U.S.
Senator from Kansas, was the featured speaker. As a capstone event, from
4:30 - 7:30 p.m., we had a bowling/billiards party and chili supper in the
campus "Jaybowl", including special appearances of the Baby Jay
mascot and the (not just children's) entertainer known locally as Balloon
Man. We also set up displays on three bulletin boards across campus
announcing the week and events.
Perhaps the most popular, though, were buttons we
created and distributed along the theme of the recent Survivor TV show:
"Nontrad Survivor!" read one, and the other, for which I must
give creative credit to our secretary for artistic design and to the
student organization at Eastern Kentucky University who came up with the
name, read: "Are You N.U.T.S.? (Not the Usual Traditional Student),
with a picture of a coconut that has just dropped a piece of its shell!
Basically, at this time of semester especially, ALL students,
traditional and nontraditional, could relate, and the humor provided a
welcome stress relief! More buttons have been requested and, since many
are still visible on backpacks across campus, are probably going to be a
lasting contribution to the increased awareness of the nontraditional
student presence here! Thanks to Gabe for the "You
Know You're A Nontrad When..." reference and other info to start
our own list off. Thanks to all of you at ANTSHE (and in the other
national organizations) for giving us a time to focus our efforts and
celebrate the presence of these wonderful students!
Laura Morgan
Assistant Director
Student Development Center
University of Kansas
22 Strong Hall
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045-7535
(785) 864-4064 (ofc)
(785) 864-2817 (fax)
LMorgan@ukans.edu
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