Although the University of North Carolina at Charlotte originally opened its doors (in the 1940s) to serve older, nontraditional students—veterans returning from World War II—the school now serves many more typical, traditional-aged, full-time students. But to meet the changing needs of Charlotte’s metro region, the university in 1995 opened the Office of Adult Students and Evening Services (OASES) to provide academic services and programs for older degree-seeking students attempting to accomplish one of life’s major goals, a college degree.
OASES’s staff and programs have grown to meet the needs of almost 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Its staff comprises a student services professional, two full-time academic advisors who are available to advise students during evening hours and on Saturdays, and a director who designs and develops programs and advocates for the nontraditional, adult learner. One of OASES’s newest programs (begun as a pilot in fall 2005) is 49er Finish, unique in focusing on assisting seniors who left the university prior to graduation.
The 49er Finish program offers personalized advising services to guide students in completing their degree requirements for graduation. It focuses on seniors who have completed 90 credit hours or more and left the institution in good academic, judicial, and financial standing. These students have not been enrolled at the UNC Charlotte campus in the most recent fall and spring semesters. The program brings students back to campus, where an OASES advisor and major department advisors determine how they can most effectively and efficiently complete the requirements for graduation.
In April 2006, OASES mailed surveys and contact information cards to more than 1,200 former UNC Charlotte seniors who had been enrolled at the university during the previous seven years. Typical reasons students cited for not completing their degrees included family responsibilities, financial concerns, and work schedule conflicts. More than 130 students indicated an interest in the 49er Finish program. As of July, thirty-five students had been re-enrolled for the summer, fall, or spring semester, and one student had graduated.
The overall impact of this program can be significant for students, parents, employers, and the community. With a degree and a stronger skill set, students become more marketable and will often return to school to earn a graduate degree. One objective adults often state as a primary reason for returning to school is to be a good role model for their children in completing what they started. Degree earners are also better equipped to win prized and highly sought after jobs and to earn more money.
This past academic year, OASES received funds for a part-time coordinator to develop survey and contact materials, coordinate correspondence and mailings, and summarize results from the survey and the contact information. A brochure outlining the 49er Finish program was developed and is available on the web and in print. OASES hopes that the program will become permanent in 2006-07. Please visit the OASES website or contact its director, Janet Daniel, by way of e-mail or by telephoning 704-687-2596, for more information.
