From student to staff

Working with prospective adult students at Granite State College, three concerns about returning to college frequently surface and these personal barriers all involve ‘fit’.

Admittedly or not, adults who are in the discernment process about college are worried if they are fit (capable) of taking on the academic challenge that comes with higher ed.  “It’s been years since I’ve picked up a text book; am I really up to it?” is a concern that I often hear.

Prospective adult learners looking at colleges that tout adult college programs spend a fair amount of time considering the environment, learning formats and programs when narrowing down their choices of schools.  Most adults are uncomfortable thinking about sitting in a classroom with traditional-aged students or trying to figure out how they will be able to make it to classes only offered during the day. They want to pick a college that is a good fit for their life situation and needs.

Like entertainers on stage juggling multiple balls most adult learners have many life priorities. Work, family, home maintenance and leisure activities carve chunks of time out of people’s lives. Going to college is admittedly a big commitment and prospective students have legitimate concerns about their ability to fit it all in.

The good news in Granite State College in built around addressing these three concerns. Small classes populated mostly by adults with significant life experience, evening weekend and online course formats offering the ability to progress at our students’ own pace have made GSC the natural choice for those adults who quite naturally ask themselves the ‘fit’ questions.

If you're considering taking the leap feel free to give me a call.  (603-513-1379)

 
Art and artisans at the Santa Fe Indian Market

Michelle and I recently returned from a trip to New Mexico and the Santa Fe Indian Market, one of the oldest and largest gatherings of Native American art in the United States.  Over 1100 painters, sculptors, jewelers, weavers and potters from a broad cross section of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos participated, displaying their craft and offering much of it for sale to the crowds that flocked to this annual, two-day event. Some of the work displayed with truly breathtaking, showcasing the considerable skill of the artisans.  Over the last several years I’ve developed an affinity for the Two Grey Hills style of Din’e (Navajo) weavings and southwestern, hand-coiled pottery crafted by artists from many of the pueblos that dot northern New Mexico.  When visiting the area I always look to pick up a piece that will then adorn my living room.  But when attending an event that draws artists with a considerable range of skills it’s important to know a little bit about the work that you’re looking at. While purchasing art is usually a matter of aesthetic interest rather than an investment it is beneficial to recognize a hand-crafted piece from those that may contain commercially constructed elements.  Making a purchase without doing your homework can lead to disappointment, especially when the sale involves hundreds or thousands of dollars.

With this in mind I am often surprised at the lack of research and due diligence exercised by older, non-traditional students when looking at adult college programs. For far too many the selection of an institution that claims to specialize in adult higher education is an impulse choice, guided only by the commercials seen on television, glossy advertisements and vague promises pitched by high pressure “admissions reps." If you haven’t noticed, continuing education degree programs and career advancement programs have become big business, populated by a number of for-profit institutions, some of which offer a questionable education carrying a hefty price tag. For those that are considering returning to college to complete their degree or attend college for the first time seeking education and career advancement, it is critical to be a conscientious consumer. Prospective buyers should ask questions such as: Is your college regionally accredited?  Exactly how much is the tuition rate per credit and what fees do you charge? What does your accelerated adult degree program actually entail?  A college education is one of the most important purchases anyone will make. It means far more than a diploma in a frame or piece of pottery on a shelf. Make sure that you become knowledgeable about the higher education system, ask questions, compare costs and don’t be rushed into making a decision.  Find someone that you can trust to discuss your options with and take your time. In this case the decision is not an emotional or aesthetic one, it’s a life long investment.

 

By spending the majority of my time around prospective students and having been an adult learner myself, I’ve developed a pretty good idea about the often tortuous decision-making process involved in returning to college. There always seem to be so many things to consider, so many factors involved in the decision. Let’s face it: our lives are complicated; when balancing work and family obligations, it’s hard to imagine fitting college into the picture. Many prospective students postpone making the choice, waiting for what I like to call ‘celestial alignment’: having one’s personal stars, moons and planets reach a perfect state in which returning to school becomes as simple as going for Chinese take-out. These individuals wait, and wait, and wait, hoping that one day everything will sort itself out and the decision will be easy. Sadly for most of us, celestial alignment rarely just happens. Fitting college into a working adult’s busy life take intentionality and some effort, but it is do-able and not nearly as hard as one would imagine.

At Granite State College we have become experts at helping our students overcome the obstacles that non-traditional learners face when starting their adult college program. Our Academic Advisors really listen, and help develop manageable plans of study that are based on the student’s needs and life schedule. Our Financial Aid counselors assist students in navigating the Federal Financial Aid process and figuring out the big question: How am I going to pay for this?  And our faculty understands our student body and is flexible in helping students meet course requirements when ‘life happens’.

I often tell prospective students that the hardest part about returning to school at Granite State College is ‘pulling the trigger’; making the decision to go forward and take their first adult college course.  Over the last three years I’ve lost count of the number of students and graduates that I’ve run into who have told me that I was right!

During my student recruiting travels for Granite State College I frequently hear stories of woe from parents of traditional age college students about how their child’s undergraduate experience took longer than the anticipated four years. “My son spent six years in college because he majored in fraternities during his first two years” said one parent. All too frequently, students who complete eight full-time semesters in a bachelor’s degree program have either insufficient credits or lack required courses for graduation. Changing majors, dropping courses, poor academic performance and course scheduling mistakes are common reasons for an extended college experience.   These extra semesters equate to higher out of pocket costs for parents and students and bigger student loans.

Fortunately there are strategies that can assist the traditional-age college student to complete their bachelor’s degree on time and, in some cases, ahead of schedule. Taking one or two summer courses every year, along with proper academic planning can enable a student to complete their plan of study a full semester ahead of time. This strategy can reduce both tuition and room and board costs and enables the student to begin the career search five months earlier than their classmates.

Many students at our sister University System of NH schools take advantage of Granite State College’s five week online spring courses or eight week summer term to build credits, then transfer these course credits into the plan of study at their ‘home’ college. Our online, evening and weekend course options allow students to complete the coursework while still working summer jobs and having adequate ‘beach time’. Registering for a summer course at Granite State College is both affordable and easy. The NH Transfer.org website allows students to make sure that the selected courses will transfer and meet their plan of study needs.  My son is a communications major at Keene State College and by taking a summer course every year at GSC is on track to complete his degree requirements in December of his senior year. My checkbook is really liking that!

If you are interested in learning more about this and other accelerated graduation strategies drop me an e-mail at tom.oetinger@granite.edu .

This month we learned the identity of the incoming president of Granite State College. Dr. Todd Leach will assume leadership of the college upon the retirement of President Karol LaCroix on June 30^th.  Dr. Leach was selected after an extensive search and joins us after a successfully guiding the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University since 2007.  Dr. Leach brings with him a wealth of experience in providing access to higher education for adult learners and non-traditional students.   If Dr. Leach’s history at Northeastern is any indication, students can look forward to new courses and degree programs; all based on the current and future needs of NH’s adult students. The next few years should prove to be exciting for the Granite State College community.
 

That being said we must take a moment and look to the past and express our appreciation to President LaCroix for six years of leadership.  With her hand to steady the helm, Granite State College experienced consistent growth and developed a reputation as New Hampshire’s “go to” college for online learning and easy access for the State’s working adult student population.  Through Karol’s leadership, GSC now provides a balanced matrix of courses and a student-centric organizational ethic that both encourages and supports our non-traditional learners.  For those of you who have been, or are currently in this situation, you know how difficult it can be to manage multiple life priorities while attending classes.  President LaCroix’s stamp is firmly imprinted into the history of this institution and through her hard work we are better prepared to tackle new academic challenges and move the college forward.
 

Thank you Karol!

I had the pleasure to teach my first course for Granite State College this past Fall.  As an alum I had plenty of experience sitting in the seats on the opposite end of the room and while I have taught before I must admit I was a bit nervous delivering the Managing Conflict course to a dozen working adult students (no fear.) 

Once I settled in I found the experience thoroughly enjoyable. The entire class was fully engaged in the material and discussions, bringing so much of their world and work experience to the conversation. Teaching this class brought me back to my time as a student, taking night college classes, reminding me of why I made the decision to return  and complete my degree.  

While it was sometimes a challenge fitting the classes and study time into my already hectic schedule I felt a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when I graduated.  Like most of the students at Granite State College I recognized the value and cost of a college education and worked hard for every grade. The fact that I was able to make immediate use of the knowledge and skills in my career in law enforcement was a real plus as well. 

I remembered all of this when I was in front of the class and it pushed me to give them my best. Going to college as an adult learner takes desire, focus and courage and these twelve students deserved no less.