Cartersville News

New group focuses on the needs of many non-traditional students at Cartersville campus

By John Fisher
Staff Writer

A group for non-traditional students has been started on the Cartersville Campus.

Lucinda Baker, assistant professor of political science at Georgia Highlands College, created the Non-Traditional Students Group out of a personal desire to help.

"I went back to school after a 16-year absence. By that time, I was a single mother of three children. There were no groups of this kind where I went to school, and I had to wing it," Baker said.

"The school has a technical definition of a non-traditional student and that is any student 25 years of age or older," said Baker, "but anyone is welcome to attend our functions."

Baker, whose office is located at the Cartersville campus, says she sees a particular place for the group there.

"I think the Cartersville campus has a lot of non-traditional students, by any definition. We try to be supportive of single mothers by not discouraging the presence of their children. Sometimes it may be difficult or simply inconvenient to secure a babysitter," she said.

Baker initiated the group in Spring Semester 2002. Meetings featured guest speakers who spoke on such topics as study habits, child care and time management. Over the summer, the group stayed in contact through picnics and other gatherings.

"Besides being a student group, it serves as a social outlet for those students who don't or can't go out every weekend. They meet people in similar situations and maybe feel more encouraged," Baker said.

"My vision for the group," she continued, "is that, while the group grows, the people in it will stay connected throughout their schooling and after entering the workforce-a network of people."

The Non-Traditional Students Group is an informal group not affiliated with Georgia Highlands College or the University System of Georgia. There are currently 10 members. The first meeting for the Fall Semester has not yet been scheduled.

For more information or to be added to the e-mailing list, contact Lucinda Baker at [email protected].