College Responds to Needs of Degree-Seeking Adults
RTP – 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.
Tammy Matthews is a perfect example. Matthews recently completed her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management while working two jobs and getting her last child through high school. “With all my responsibilities I did not see myself completing my college degree,” she said. “However, thanks to University of Mount Olive, it was not only possible, but I now have my degree in my hands. I feel as though I can accomplish anything!” Currently, Matthews works for Duke Health Systems in the Wound Management/Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Clinics as a supervisor for Clinic Services. She has worked in the healthcare field for 21 years and is looking forward to future career advancements now that she has completed her degree. “I hope to continue my career in the health care field, and complete my masters in health care administration.”
Academic programs leading to a bachelor’s degree include the following: Criminal Justice and Criminology, 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 Lisa Nuesell, director of the University of Mount Olive RTP Campus. “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 the Research Triangle Park campus of University of Mount Olive, potential students are invited to an Open House on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 7:00 PM. 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 Lisa Nuesell at 1-888-258-5188 or email lnuesell@moc.edu.
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.