UW-Whitewater looks to help almost graduated students
New program targets 'adult' demographic
Kristine Johnson
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: News
UW-Whitewater has created an outreach program to assist non-traditional students who are close to graduation but failed to complete requirements.
"These students have made a huge investment but never completed their education," said Jodi Hare-Paynter, interim registrar and admissions director. "We want to help them graduate."
A $90,000 grant that became available in 2008 has been used by both the college of Letters and Science and the Registrar's Office to fund the program.
The goal for Letters and Science is to get the adult non-traditional students enrolled in school, whether they started going to school and dropped out because of life circumstances or are just starting school.
The Registrar's Office focuses on students who applied for graduation at one point, but did not complete their requirements to receive a diploma.
"There are many circumstances surrounding why they did not complete school," Hare-Paynter said. "They may need to finish a few credits, their community service hours or writing requirement. It's not a one-size fits all."
Although graduation examiner Barbara Housner has files from the last 30 years of students who have not completed their requirements, the program currently is focused on students from the last six years. Roughly 331 students have been identified using current student information in WINS. Housner sends letters to students letting them know if they wish to receive their diploma from UW-Whitewater they need to come back and complete requirements.
"We will help the student explore the many options available for them to complete their requirements and the steps needed for graduation," Housner said.
Betty Villalobos-Hallman is the adult student adviser for the Adult Student Outreach program. Her goal is to assist students in dealing with the difficulties of being an adult student or just to be a friend.
"We want to make a connection with these students," Villalobos-Hallman said. "We're all going through this together, and we all can accomplish the dream of that degree.
The program makes the idea of going back to school become a reality.
"Wisconsin currently ranks 36th among the 50 states in the number of adults over age 25 with bachelor's degrees. The greatest growth in job opportunities will be those jobs requiring bachelor's degrees," said Elizabeth Hachten, assistant dean of UW-Whitewater's College of Letters and Sciences.
"These students have made a huge investment but never completed their education," said Jodi Hare-Paynter, interim registrar and admissions director. "We want to help them graduate."
A $90,000 grant that became available in 2008 has been used by both the college of Letters and Science and the Registrar's Office to fund the program.
The goal for Letters and Science is to get the adult non-traditional students enrolled in school, whether they started going to school and dropped out because of life circumstances or are just starting school.
The Registrar's Office focuses on students who applied for graduation at one point, but did not complete their requirements to receive a diploma.
"There are many circumstances surrounding why they did not complete school," Hare-Paynter said. "They may need to finish a few credits, their community service hours or writing requirement. It's not a one-size fits all."
Although graduation examiner Barbara Housner has files from the last 30 years of students who have not completed their requirements, the program currently is focused on students from the last six years. Roughly 331 students have been identified using current student information in WINS. Housner sends letters to students letting them know if they wish to receive their diploma from UW-Whitewater they need to come back and complete requirements.
"We will help the student explore the many options available for them to complete their requirements and the steps needed for graduation," Housner said.
Betty Villalobos-Hallman is the adult student adviser for the Adult Student Outreach program. Her goal is to assist students in dealing with the difficulties of being an adult student or just to be a friend.
"We want to make a connection with these students," Villalobos-Hallman said. "We're all going through this together, and we all can accomplish the dream of that degree.
The program makes the idea of going back to school become a reality.
"Wisconsin currently ranks 36th among the 50 states in the number of adults over age 25 with bachelor's degrees. The greatest growth in job opportunities will be those jobs requiring bachelor's degrees," said Elizabeth Hachten, assistant dean of UW-Whitewater's College of Letters and Sciences.
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