College Responds to Needs of Degree-Seeking Adults
MOUNT OLIVE – In today’s competitive college environment, adult learners, often called nontraditional students, make up a large and growing segment of the population. Many of these students have special needs, including limited budgets, demanding professional workloads and time constraints.
This year alone, approximately 4,000 students at University of Mount Olive’s six locations throughout eastern North Carolina will be considered non-traditional. Those students, with a median age of 31, will not only be seeking a college education, but also balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities.
Kimberly Jackson, mother to twin daughters, is a perfect example. Attending college as a busy mother of two was no easy task, but Jackson was up to the challenge and graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. “My degree from University of Mount Olive has given me confidence in myself that I needed, and I will be able to apply for better paying jobs. There is no telling what the future may hold for me, but I am certain University of Mount Olive has given me the tools necessary to succeed.”
At University of Mount Olive academic programs leading to a bachelor’s degree include the following: Criminal Justice and Criminology, Business Management, Early Childhood Education, Religion, Management of Information Systems, Human Resource Management and Health Care Management. For the adult with little or no college credit, the Associate in General Studies offers the core courses needed for an associate’s degree.
Because members of the non-traditional programs at University of Mount Olive are considered full-time students, if they qualify, they can receive a significant amount of financial aid. “Our goal is to help students find adequate financial resources to attend University of Mount Olive,” states Katrina Lee, director of Financial Aid. “By combining institutional scholarships and grant programs with federal and state assistance and installment payment options, MOC makes college possible for deserving and qualified students.”
“It’s all about packaging our programs to meet the needs of our students,” states Paul Rutter, director of the University of Mount Olive’s Evening Program. “Just because students have passed the ‘traditional’ age of going to college, shouldn’t mean they have burnt their bridge to a degree. At University of Mount Olive, we have been successful by working strategically to offer an exceptional student experience, being flexible to their needs and providing more diverse program options.”
To learn more about the one-night-a-week programs for working adults at University of Mount Olive, potential students are invited to an Open House on Thursday, September 20, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the following MOC locations: University of Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Washington, RTP or Jacksonville. Potential students will have the opportunity to tour classrooms, meet with the staff and ask questions about degrees, financial aid and the admissions process. University of Mount Olive Alumni who live in the areas are urged to attend to hear about the exciting new programs and updates from MOC. Registration is not required. For more information, call 1-855-MOC-Goal.
University of Mount Olive is a private, liberal arts institution dedicated to the total development of its students in an environment nurtured by Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington, and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.