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A&T Is The Place To Be
Non-traditional students are
right at home at A&T
Phyllis Cole
Feeling apprehensive about going back to school? Phyllis Cole
understands.
With an easy, soothing,"mama knows”demeanor, N.C. A&T
State University's director of evening and weekend programs
has helped shepherd countless "non-traditional" students into
the Aggie fold - helping them make smooth transitions to
that next level in their careers and their lives.
While the students themselves know best what they want to
accomplish, Cole and the rest of her colleagues on A&T's
enrollment management and retention team know how to
help them get there.
"They have concerns that traditional students don't have,"
Cole says. "Education is not their primary focus. Number one is
life and living.They
do it to make the
quality of life better
for them and their
families."
Undergraduate
students over 24
are considered non-
traditional in the
academic arena.
Through efforts
ranging from the
annual New Year's
Resolutions Party
to keeping the
library open around
the clock and
providing after
Juggling her family and a full-time Job in the
chancellor's office, Leonora Bryant took 16 years
to complete her bachelor's degree. She's now
working on a master's in management
information systems.
work hours for numerous other services, A&T reaches out to the
growing segment of the college population.
Their specific goals are varied,often including a desire to
advance in their current careers, to start new ones, to set an
example for their college-age children, or just to develop
themselves personally.
Many started at A&T years ago and dropped out; many did the
same at other schoois.Cole can relate some of the more
common stories:
"Often they were not ready, so they didn't do as well academi
cally; for a lot of them the finances were not available; some of
them just lost interest because they came for mama and daddy
and not for themselves."
Others are seeking higher education for the first time. More
than a tew are in their 50s and 60s and aren't doing it for the
sake of their careers or earning power.
"Some say this is something that they always wanted to do and
never did,"she says, pointing out that North Carolina offers
tuition-free higher education to residents 65 and over. "They
put their children through college, the children have grown up
and are doing well, and they say, 'Now it's my turn.'
"Some of them just do it for personal development. They want
to be able to have good conversations."
Whatever their reasons, A&T gives students what they want and
need as adults, especially those raising families.
"They require different services but they still require quality
services," Cole says.
One important service A&T provides is an understanding of how
difficult taking that first step can be.
"A lot of them are
frightened,
thinking I'm
older. Everybody's
looking at me,"
Cole says. "But
what happens is
they find that
there are a lot of
people who look
just like them."
Adult students usually find that their life experience is a
valuable asset in the classroom, where many are often
surprised to find themselves excelling beyond their younger
counterparts.
"When adults come, honestly, they need less help with the
academic piece than they do with the personal pieces,"Cole
says, citing such considerations as financing, childcare and
scheduling.
A&T provides support in all areas through its enrollment
management and retention operation team, which is
committed to the standard of excellence set by Assistant
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Director of
Admissions Lee Young.
"He's very very pro serving 100 percent of the population,"
says Cole, who says all the team members share a single
focus."lt's not about us, it's about A&T, and A&T is about the
students."
While such offerings as evening hours and online degrees
are becoming commonplace as almost all schools get serious
about competing for non-traditional students,students
choose A&T for reasons ranging from proximity to their
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John J. “Nick” Becton '79
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D. Hayes Clement
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Velma R. Speight-Buford - Vice Chair ’53
Michael L. Suggs ‘82
Melvin C. Swann Jr.
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Steven C. Watson
Joseph A. Williams 72
Chancellor
James Carmichael Renick
Executive Cabinet
ProvostA/ice Chancellor, Academic Affairs -
Carolyn W. Meyers
Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance -
Willie T. "Tommy" Ellis Jr. 79/'85
Vice Chancellor, Development and University Relations -
David W. Hoard
Vice Chancellor, Information Technology/
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Vice Chancellor, Research and Economic
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Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs -
Roselle L. Wilson (Interim)
Executive Assistant to the Chancellor -
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Camille Kluttz-Leach (Acting)
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