Nontraditional Student Programs at the University offers a wide variety of services, programs, opportunities and events catering to groups of students who don’t meet the standard definition of an
average college student.
For the beginning of fall term, NSP’s administrative and student leadership are offering orientations designed specifically for nontraditional students and are seeking to expand and cultivate greater student involvement with NSP.
The University’s official list of what defines a nontraditional student is as follows: A student over the age of 24; a married, divorced or partnered student; a student who works full time; students with children, or who are supporting family members; students re-entering college after a break period of more than five years; students in the midst of changing careers; armed forces veterans; first-generation students; students who qualify as low-income; students with independent financial status; and students with transfer admission status.
Gretchen Jewett is the University’s Director of Nontraditional and Veterans Education and Support.
She describes her responsibilities under this position as being different from quarter to quarter, but nonetheless oriented toward making student life easier for nontraditional students and their families at the University.
“At the beginning of the year I do a ton of orientation work, and in winter I’m doing a lot of work with scholarship work and those kinds of things,” Jewett said. “Out of this office we provide students with quite a bit of
financial resources.”
Some of the highlights of these scholarships and financial resources, Jewett said, are the Osher Re-Entry Scholarship and the Tillman Military Scholarship. The Osher Scholarship is geared toward students who have re-entered college after a gap in education spanning more than five years, and the Tillman Scholarship is available to military veterans, active service members and their spouses and dependents.
The current co-chair of the UO Nontraditional Student Union is Christabelle Dragoo, who shares the position with her husband, Trevor Moore. The couple entered the work force following high school, and they also have two young children. They are both currently pursuing undergraduate degrees.
Dragoo said she would like to see more student involvement — both from undergraduate and graduate students — with NSP.
“My husband and I are hoping to revitalize the (Nontraditional Student Union),” Dragoo said. “We are getting together a leadership program at this time that will hopefully consist of a pretty typical leadership model, like a treasurer and an events coordinator and outreach specialist, those kinds of things. We would also like to participate in and facilitate more events, and raise awareness of nontraditional students.”
A nontraditional student-specific orientation session will be held on Sept. 22 beginning at 9 a.m. in the EMU Walnut Room. A similar orientation designed for student military veterans, or families of military veterans, entering the University will take place in the EMU Rogue Room at 1 p.m. on Sept. 24.