Kirkwood New Adult Student Welcome, May 19

Kirkwood Community College will hold a reception for adult students planning to start or return to college. The free event is set for May 19, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 316A, Iowa Hall on Kirkwood's main Cedar Rapids campus.

The accepted student event features presentations by former "new returning students," plus walking tours of the campus to familiarize students with classroom and office locations. Refreshments will be served. According to Kirkwood Adult Admission Specialist Mark Ash the event is designed to "take the edge off the nerves" for students planning to return to college life.

"We know that deciding to come back to college is a big step for many people. It's a relief for them to find out they are not alone. When you define the 'returning adult student' as anyone 22 or older, that's now more than one third of our Kirkwood student body,” Ash observed. “I recently met with a nontraditional student who said, ‘I know what I want. Help me get there.' That is what this event is designed for-- to help adult learners ‘get there.'”

College officials report that student enrollments for those 25 and older grew by one-third in the fall of 2009, compared with the previous year. Ash also pointed out the positive role college classes can have for adults facing uncertain employment situations. Future students will also learn how to address the delicate balance between family, work and pursuing their education.

“At Kirkwood we are veterans of helping people through the economic cycles and have been a way to help adults find new options. Just this month we have talked with people who have lost small business operations or suffered job layoffs. Amid those difficult times, we hope our Kirkwood services and classes can give those people and others some new, maybe even better options,” Ash added. “One woman, laid off due to a plant closure after 32 years, shared with me that while returning to college really wasn't in her original plans, she was looking at returning to college as a great opportunity to better herself.”

Adult learners interested in attending the May 19 New Adult Learner Welcome Day are asked to RSVP by calling Mark Ash at (319) 398-5543 or e-mailing:

mark.ash@kirkwood.edu.