No, really!
Well, of the Sophia Club, but still!
Yes, ladies and gents, I am officially the president of the social arm of the Bunting Student Group...and I get all the politics that go along with it (yikes!)
I was serious when I said I wanted to become more involved at school. While I wasn't expecting to hold a position on an executive board, the opportunity was presented to me and I decided to go for it. Being a non-traditional student makes me appreciate the opportunity I have to be in school, and really, serving for one of the two organizations specific to non-traditional students seems only fitting. It sounds like we have some incoming students who are really eager to participate, so I'm looking forward to tapping into that and fostering a really active group.
I think I've covered in previous posts what constitutes a non-traditional student, but, please humor me as I reiterate the basics-a non-traditional student typically falls into one of more of the following catergories:
- has been out of high school for 4 or more years at the time of application to Rutgers-NB or at the time of first registration
- is returning to school after a period of absence from the college or university environment
- is part-time, taking fewer than 12 credits for 2 semesters or more
- has had an interruption (typically 2 years or more) of formal undergraduate education either at Rutgers or before attending Rutgers
- has significant non-academic commitments, for example, issues pertaining to work, family, mental or physical health, or finances that would preclude or severely impede a student from obtaining a degree through traditional academic full-time study (documentation required)
- is not enrolled in a degree program (non-matriculated)
- is pursuing post-baccalaureate studies primarily in undergraduate courses
- is enrolled in off-campus courses
- is an active/inactive veteran or a veteran’s dependant enrolled at RU
Rutgers has two groups that are designed to help meet the need of the non-traditional student, the University College Community (UCC) and the Mary I Bunting program. We are automatically associated with the UCC when we are identified as non-traditional, and any woman who joins the Douglass Residential College who is over the age of 24 (out of high school for 5 or more years) are automatically associated with the Bunting program. I found it a solace to know that I had people who were specifically designated to understand that my needs are different from that of a traditional college student.
College isn't easy no matter when you are going, but trying to reintroduce yourself into an undergraduate learning community after being out in the "real world" for a length of time is a daunting task. Knowing what resources are available is invaluable.
(PS...Professors LOVE non-traditional students.)
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