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By Ann Greens
UNL is En institution of people, not
just building and parking lots, the
director of Evening Programs and
Adult Learning Services said. Deanna
Baxter Eversoil said EPALS tries to
reach a population not served by the
university: non-traditional students.
Although non-traditional students
are hard to categorke, Eversoil said,
more females than males, ages 25-35,
are going back to college to finish up,
uncompleted degrees at night, while
continuing to work full time. Many of
today's non-traditional students are
ones who originally "stopped out" of
college, she said. Some just were not
ready for college, she said. Some of
today's adult students are family heads
who often need more education to get
a better job. Eversoil said that some
One study, begun in 1931, Is the
adult graduate follow-up study. In thb,
adult students are surveyed when they
receive undergraduate degrees. A follow
up contact is made one year later.
Results from the follow-up survey show
that 94 percent of the students question
ed would do it again, based on their
experiences since graduation.
Many of the anonymous comments
from the study indicate that the stu
dents gained self-confidence and im
proved self-esteem as a result of col
lege. They said they felt they could take
better control of their careers and
could be more assertive at their jobs.
Many said they wished they had gone
back to college sooner because of the
sense of pride and accomplishment
they felt when they received their
degrees. Few said they felt as if they
didnt belong many said faculty
members and younger students were
ested adults. Representatives from
every college provide counseling, and
former adult students share their ex
periences about going back to college.
The workshops are held twice a year.
EPALS provides a number of servi
ces to help new students get started Feed
back from the workshops and their
research helps determine which couises
;vpuld be best for adult students. EPALS
then works with the appropriate col-'
leges and departments to provide both
credited and noncredited courses.
EPALS mails a schedule of evening
programs (credit courses) and com
muniversity courses (noncredit cours
es) to every boxholder in Lancaster
County. This way students can take
the required classes when they need
to, Eversoil said.
EPALS then provides the adminis
trative services necessary to register
and counsel adult students. Registra
tion and information booths are set up
at Gateway Mall, the State Office Build
ing, and at some downtown banks at
the beginning of each semester.
Many adults believe the uni
versity caters to the 18- to 25-year-old
students while iq-
nonng oiaer students.
separation and divorce agreements
even say that ex-spouses must provide
financial support while the other at
tends classes.
One large obstacle for a prospective
adult student is the fear of not fitting
into the university community. Ever
soil said many adults believe the uni
versity caters to 18- to 25-year-old
students while ignoring older students.
Adult students often are afraid of
being shunned by younger students
and professors, she said. EPALS has
done extensive research involving the
attitudes of adult students, 30-years-old
and older.
very supportive and understanding.
However, problems did exist. Some
adult students surveyed said working
full time and going to school at night
left little time for families and hobbies.
Others said their co-workers were
jealous of their resulting increase in
salary and status. But, most students
saidthat despite these problems, attend
ing college was worth the effort. Some
even convinced spouses and friends to
go back to college.
Because going back to college is a big
step, Eversoil said, the decision is not
an easy one to make. EPALS sponsors
a back-to-school workshop for inter-
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Tumday. July 24, 1984
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