Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Wedne Tltey'm They worry about their last test and if tl right major, just li! students. But unlit adults in USC's matu don't worry about w uranl urnrlH " Thpv If M. VUi f V/l A VA , M. there. Through the progi over 25 years of age h to get an education a Many are starting ( time. Others are rett classroom retireip??r to learn ana exem campus. "I have so much will to be here So much enthusiasm. This is my choice. I have to look out for my future," said Joyce Casey, a middle-aged freshman and mother of three. "My realistic goal is to apply learning to every day experience. I want to meet people and feel better about myself. I want to get that diploma and be an educated person." Casey is returning to college after a 25 year in terval. "I was a little anxious," she admits. "But at each class meeting I feel a little better." Casey's anxiety, typical of the mature student's initial feelings about school, is shared by Lois Alfred, who graduated from high school ?? i i Si years ago ana nas never attended college until now. "I had terrific anxiety entering school. I had lost so much because my brain didn't have to function like this," Alfred said. However, the personal fulfillment the students receive from being in school and getting an education usually overshadows the anxiety. ''It's for my own personal i:.,r t*>? ..n r. sdusiitcuun. 11 a upcucu up o totally new life for me," Alfred said enthusiastically. Oscar Earg/e seems to experience.' He is one of are re-entering c/assro lives (Photo by Tony I sday'ss Mtotgei what they made on ley have chosen the Lro anv nthor TT.QP IW UA1J V/VA1VA. vy ce most students, re student program hat it is like in the now ? they've been ram, USC students nave the opportunity nd begin a new life. :ollege for the first irninrf oftor voarc nf |1 lllllg ui vvi J V141 U V/A it. But all are eager ,d about being on "I needed something else, and this is it. I tried the luncheon club circuit, but it wasn't my cup of tea," "I wanted personal improvement," Casey noted. "This was the right time for me. I had the time, the energy and financial resources." Personal satisfaction is one thing mature students have in common, but that is where the similarities end. The students come from all different backgrounds and nave an Kinds or cnrterent interests and goals. "I think of most mature students as atypical. There's such a wide variety. People who have lost a spouse...Some of the folks have had traumatic experiences... Some have lost a job and are trying to make a ' new Deginning tor memselves. A lot is hanging on a college career because of the loss," said Doroty S. Fidler, coordinator of special programs at USC. Jim Streeter is one out-ofthe-ordinary student. He is having another go at a college career after he quit junior college over 30 years ago. In that time, he started his own moving and storage business, which he still operates, and has seen two of be enjoying the 'freshman many mature students who oms and beginning new Williams) old ^ ^ ^ ' Three freshmen, Carole Crolle University 101 class to bee, his five children through the graduate school. Th< While in junior college, 0n* Streeter made mostly Ds, S 1 1*1 1 A. , 1 anu unin ne re-eniereu tnu school he thought Ds were de\ O.K. However, Streeter, who bus enrolled in the program in an< January 1980, now has a 3.7 sai grade point ratio. dr< "With the kids there was a rot certain amount of jealousy 4 because I was getting better go< grades than they were. It scl was a laughing matter for a hoi while," Streeter said. "But, wi: hell, I don t expect to De a 4.0 pei student all the time ? just ( half of the time." Streeter is considering a fai degree in theatre and speech ha and is especially interested nv in cable television. "I want m; to get into it," he said. "It go might take 25 years, but I'll co< get out of here." an While some students ?" aren't worried about when they get finished school, j most are concerned when Sa they will find time to handle tei Rated X: eh By Kimbeiiy ( Staff Writoi Although mature students I becoming students again after classroom, they have one advant< mni'P Hpfprmi nf>H to cfpt an pHnnat "The advantage of our progra education," said Joyce Casey, a student program. "We know what The mature student program, 1 25 years old begin learning again students to make a smooth transit to that of a student and develop; Through the program, mature ; enrolling in one of two packag closed to other students. The Mc package offers nine credit houn package includes six credit hours tn nronnro fhf matnro QtnH academically for college classes. All classes are scheduled in th the Law Center to avoid scram package includes English 101 or 1 third course in the Monday, Wed an introductory humanities or semester a course in human becor Classes are also offered on Satu able to go during the week. About 250 students are enrolled the Saturday classes. There an students at USC including those I in regular programs and those em Scheduling classes in packages to continue his life without serious Additional courses may be t special programs coordinator at 01, Jttdf a? Ha y. Dee Shacker and Norn lin. (Photo by Tony Willi, ir other responsibilities, jrefore most students are *? y part-time. ^ treeter is taking 6 hours > semester. He must rote time to operating his ?iness while he studies U i attends class. But he ___ id school has not he istically affected his ^ itine. to 'I sleep a little less and in ;>f around a little less, but lool didn't cut down on my me life. It helped that my * fe supported me 100 s. rcent," he said. Casey, on the other hand, h< s a different view. "My mily had to adjust,and I d to learn how to manage "J y time. It's different for . l l? rr r u It aica ciiiu lcuidica. 11 1 ^:uuiu ' home and dinner would be oked, the house cleaned Qt d the dog fed, it would be e thing. But I have three p; ildren to look after." C \lfred, who is enrolled in a turday class, said at- in iding school has altered u i&m m ti >ihlar frequently have trouble ot years away from the P1 ige because they are often . ion than other students. . m is that we ask for this i freshman in the mature . we DON'T know." lowever, helps adults over ^ . The program enables the ^ lUli irum men iunui:i i uies academic skills. students have the option of ** es, which include classes r( nday, Wednesday, Friday ?. The Tuesday, Thursday A ?. The classes are intended U t? J ent psycnoiogicany ana a e morning back-to-back in d ibling across campus. Each t< 102 and University 101. The b nesdav Fridav nackaee is social science class. This 1 nings is offered. rdays for those who are not a c I in the program, including fc i more than 3,000 mature :aking higher level courses p oiled in evening classes. allows the mature student j interruptions from school. a aken, but Doroty Fidler, USC, recommends a part- i< Mttaxte bf jr abb na Nuvia, wait for their 'mat ams) I needed, oowetiowj e?fte. hied tke CumcUwjk M mu't my cup oh lea.' t daily routine a little durii ?cause she must find a time Ar study when she won't be stu(j terrupted. coj^ "I get up a couple hours irlier. I get uninterrupted T1 uuyuig uuiic in inc iiiui - " mg. I allow at least three was jurs study time for every to ? jurof c) *ss." offe But mature students want _ tore from school than 1 udying and going to class, a c ist like any other student. hey want to be part of the Col impus. whc oev "I want to be a Gamecock, exp art of the student body," ran aseysaid. chii Streeter wants to take part wh< i the college tradition of the iking off to Ft. Lauderdale ton dune, ttudenti rvi n Inorl f k /kl r\ oil n *v> a ?-* a rin I niv; iwuu iv# ncip Diuucmo uuiiui^c ti Curriculum tor the mature studei her freshmen c lasses, said Sail; rofessor for the program. "They (the students) need to hav ack record and sections closed ti Id," Fidler said. "One, it gets them jts out. on the worry of competin :udents." Class discussion, Johns said, is lan in a regular freshmen class iresting." Since they know where their le lature students usually take at isources. Jim Streeter had note taking pro cademic Skills Development Cent iking methods they taught hin evised his own method. Streeter said he knew everythin idn't know how to take it. He spe CI IlUUIia ci W tXA Idn 11 lp, inmvi vuu ack in the swing of things." "The first semester they need 'hat's where the skills center can h Tips for note taking, time manag nd textbook proficiency are of harge is assessed if the student i: IUU( 2>. Alfred said she still has a lot ot ai tutting words on paper is very diffi Time management is also hard I iut Casey said she knows she has ind takes things into perspective, i "If it takes another six months, s mow we have time; it comes with i % ?? i^?j^9| \ ':/ /gySjp-tv ^^HHBfif^''<^^:^;^'&:' ure students only' and Ittit w it. Ei cincuit, (ml it ? ?w Allied ng spring break. lother way mature ents can get involved in lifp ic thrnnoh thp anization for Mature lents. tie organization, which formed last May, is open iny student over 25 and rs educational and social ortunities. he organization operates offee room in the Adult irning Center at 1728 lege St. It is a place ?re students can gather jveen classes and discuss leriences and ideas, ging from what the dren did yesterday to it they plan to do with ir college education lorrow. S ftM&j heir time. it classes is the same as y Johns, an English 101 e a professor with a good > students under 25 years i a peer group, and, two, it g with younger, brighter sometimes more lengthy , and "frankly, more mlarning deficiencies are. ivantage of educational blems until he visited the er. He took the three note l, combined them, and g on his first test, but he rit two nights and two afcourses to help him "get to get their skills back, elp," Fidler said. ;ement, exam preparation fered by the center, ino ? enrolled in nine or more nxioty about tests because cult for her. for most mature students the time to get her degre* inlike younger students, o what?" Casey said. "We naturity."