Nontraditional students face class schedule, parking issues

It can be very intimidating for nontraditional students to pursue their education at the University as they face a variety of challenges.
Limited availability of evening classes, under-representation in the student body and parking are a few that affect the small population.
The total number of nontraditional students at the University, according to the Office of the Registrar, is 3,224 — less than 7 percent of the total University population of 51,234 students.
Sue Shurmann is the dean of the University College Community, which is designed to provide support for nontraditional students.  She said, “At Rutgers, the major challenges facing adult students — well, assuming they meet the admission requirements — the two biggest challenges are finding classes that fit their schedule and parking,.” said University College Community Dean Susan Schurman.
The time spent driving to school, in conjunction with the time spent finding one’s way to class after parking, can be daunting. The University’s limited schedule of night classes makes it difficult to hold a job to earn enough to support the average adult, she said.
“It’s very difficult to find night classes here,” Schurman said. “[Nontraditional students] don’t need programmatic assistance, just differential access.”
Since     Schurmann went on to explain that because mmost adult students are commuters, the issues of purchasing a parking pass, parking in a designated location and getting to class on time becomes even more complicated,. she said.
The time spent driving to school, in conjunction with the time spent finding one’s way to class after parking, can be daunting.  In addition, Rutgers’ limited schedule of night classes makes it difficult to hold a job which earns enough to support the average adult.
“It’s very difficult to find night classes here,” said Schurmann.  “[Nontraditional students] don’t need programmatic assistance, just differential access.” 
“I think many nontraditional students struggle with maintaining families on a student budget,” said nontraditional student Keyjo Lee, a Douglass College senior. “As a single woman, I can manage on very little money, but I can’t imagine having to contribute to a full household or even helping to feed another person on the same amount. I know that some students rely on a spouse’s income to cover additional expenses, and in this financial climate, layoffs are making those second incomes far less stable.”
The Mary I. Bunting Program at Douglass Residential College is designed for women who have been out of high school for five years or more prior to entering the University, said Manager of College Programs Katherine Birckmayer. The program hosts a variety of events designed to assist their members in acclimating to college while balancing the pressures of adult life, such as the Career Networking Social on Monday.
“The one thing I would say about economy-related issues is that a general concern I have, after reviewing all of these scholarship applications, is the amount of loans people are taking out,” Birckmayer said. “Starting a new career at [age] 40 or 50 and then trying to pay back $40,000 to $60,000 in student loans can be very challenging.”
To avoid feeling isolated at the University, both Birckmayer and Schurman advise all nontraditional students to get involved with a supportive community such as University College Community or the Bunting Program.
“The Bunting Program and UCC help adult students negotiate their way through the University,” Birckmayer said. “We may not be able to answer every question, but we can guide them toward the right answers.”
To become part of a community, Birckmayer recommends persistence.
“I’d encourage nontraditional students to be proactive and persistent,” she said. “You can get an amazing education at Rutgers, but you can’t take no for an answer.”