News
Dalton State to Host Adult Learner Open House
06/02/16
Adult learners interested in going back to college to earn a degree started years ago, or maybe never at all, are invited to attend Dalton State’s Adult Learner Open House Thursday, June 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.
There are many compelling arguments for finishing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program said Dr. Barbara Tucker, interim assistant vice president of Academic Affairs and planner of the Open House event. “Many studies show that a person’s lifetime earnings are increased dramatically by completing a degree – as much as a million dollars over the span of your working life, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“Other research shows that people with college degrees, statistically, live longer and healthier lives and even have less risk of certain diseases. They are more likely to have health insurance from their employers and greater job satisfaction, security, and stability,” she said. “The Dalton area has one of the lowest percentages of people with bachelor’s degrees, so it can give you a competitive edge in the job market.”
Dalton State has 22 different bachelor’s degree programs including three that are completely online: Organizational Leadership, Criminal Justice, and Health Information Management.
“Also you can get your first two years of core classes online through eCore,” Tucker said. “There will be information about all these options available at the Open House.”
The application fee will be waived for all adult learners (those 25 and over) who submit an enrollment application at the Open House. “They can enroll in time to attend our Adult Learner Orientation session in July and start classes in August,” she said.
The high price of a college education can be an obstacle to adults considering going back, but Tucker says Dalton State’s tuition and fees are among the lowest in the nation.
“College is an investment, not an expense. For most people, going to college means re-budgeting and rethinking expenses for the time they are in school. But college is not forever, and the cost will be worth it in the long run. Dalton State is one of the best value colleges in the country with a very low per-hour credit price (somewhat higher for online programs), and our faculty are also looking for ways to use low-cost learning materials and textbooks,” she said.
Adults anxious about returning to the classroom after being away for years, maybe even decades, need not worry Tucker says.
“We are used to helping students who have been out of the classroom,” she said. “We offer developmental courses to help you be ready for college level work, and we have tutoring services and math, writing, and science labs. Also, you will not be the only adult student on campus as 20 percent of our students are 25 or older. We have students in their 40s and 50s.
“Our faculty love older students. Many of them were adult learners on their way through college and graduate school,” she said.
In addition, some adult learners may be eligible to receive credit for training received on the job or by testing out of a class. These are handled on a case by case basis, Tucker said.
The Open House will be held in the lobby area of the College’s freshly renovated Health Professions Building. On hand to answer questions and assist participants will be representatives from eMajor and eCore, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, and the Schools of Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Health Professions, and Science, Technology, and Mathematics. Admissions staffers will be on hand to lead campus tours, and the $30 application fee will be waived for all attendees who complete applications at the Open House.
Those planning to attend should park in Lorberbaum Liberal Arts Building parking lot. For more information, contact Barbara Tucker at 706-272-2491.