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After all these years, I have so many questions about school. Is there someone to help me get started? What will happen if I need extra help? I havent written an essay for such a long time. What if I am having difficulties? How can I meet other mature students?

Back to Class a Humber guide for mature students

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome from the Dean of Students Introduction Before Classes Start The Mature Student Orientation The First Month Tips and Helpful Hints Study Skills / Tech Talk / Library Lessons The Balancing Act 4 5 6 7 8 10

Welcome from the Dean of Students

Introduction

Mature students are an important part of Humbers diverse student community. We admire your decision to return to academic studies and we recognize that your re-entry to the learning environment may present some unique transition and success issues. Mature students return to school for many reasons, including the desire to explore new career opportunities, the need to find employment requiring specific qualifications and to learn more about something that has been a long-term personal interest. They also bring a range of challenges, including previous poor

experiences with education that may have led to leaving the first time, the need to continue to support family in the period of career transition, and the range of learning challenges that many students face. Our awareness of these transition issues and potential barriers to success has helped us to develop a number of programs and resources designed to help you achieve your goals as a student at Humber. It also allows us to train our staff to appreciate what differentiates you from traditional-aged college students.

The Mature Student Handbook is intended to provide you with a summary of the challenges that you may face, and corresponding resources that can help you to be successful. It is my sincere hope that you make the most of this and the other resources available to you, and more importantly, that you are not alone, among your peers who face many of the same challenges or among the faculty and staff who are here to do their utmost to ensure your success. Sincerely, Jason Hunter Dean of Students

he purpose of this handbook is to answer some common questions and provide a resource guide to mature students as you begin your studies at Humber and Guelph-Humber. This publication is geared to mature students who are 25+ years old. Often many of you are returning to school after a break in your formal education. Many students return to school to change careers, to upgrade skills, or to finish a program started years earlier. There is no such thing as a typical mature student, but mature

students have many common concerns. These concerns and life experiences make the return to school a different experience from those students who enter college directly from high school. Mature students face uncertainties about course expectations, the effort to balance home and school, rusty study skills and simply the awkwardness of being in the student chair again! Often returning to school involves personal and family sacrifices. Juggling becomes a necessary skill. The decision to return to college

is not one taken lightly. Mature students are generally motivated to do well and you may put a lot of pressure on yourself to maintain all previous activities in your life. It is important to set realistic goals, as the transition to college is challenging. Give yourself and your family time to settle in. Remember, you are not alone. Throughout your time here at Humber and GuelphHumber, the Department of Student Success and Engagement (SSE) offers support and activities to make your experience the best possible one. Welcome.

Before Classes Start

The First Month

Tips and Helpful Hints!

Try to set up a filing system to refer back to relevant information as required. It is not necessary to remember the vast amounts of information that will come your way in the first few days of your college experience. Keep an eye out for any Mature Student activities where you will meet other students coping with similar challenges. Ongoing support is great! Attend the Mature Student Orientation. Get to know the campus and identify key personnel and services. At the start of the year you may be worried. This feeling is natural. It takes time to get into the swing of full-time studies. Younger students never left school; mature students have had time out! Review the following tips as you continue to adjust to Humber and GuelphHumber: Keep things in perspective and dont put too much pressure on yourself. You are in transition mode and adjustment takes some time. Investigate on-campus supports at your own pace. Refer to the Humber website for lists of available services. Talk to your professor about any course concerns. Dont be afraid to ask questions. Most of your classmates will be relieved if you ask questions - many are too timid to voice those concerns themselves. Use your time effectively right from the get-go. It is no secret that you have many responsibilities in addition to your coursework. Try and meet younger students when opportunities present themselves. You have a lot to offer, and so (believe it or not) do they. Dont be overwhelmed by extensive reading lists that you may receive. You do not need to rush to the bookstore and purchase each item listed. You may find some selections are additional, suggested reading. You may choose to use the library copy. There is also a chance to buy second-hand books. Once you attend your first class, the professor will clarify which texts are essential.

During Orientation Week, students are asked to attend an Orientation session specific to their particular program. At this session, you will be given information about your timetable, courses, tuition and student ID. Details regarding timetables and program expectations will be reviewed. At times this process can feel like an overload. Dont feel as if you must commit all this detail to memory. We will review this information in the Mature Student Orientation and focus on the information most relevant to mature students.

The following checklist may be helpful:

Pay attention to dates for Registration and other Orientation activities. Plan your budget carefully and keep on top of your finances. Sort out arrangements for home in terms of child care, study times and back up support people. Prioritize those aspects of your situation that will affect your studies. Social, employment and academic commitments may have to be revised as the semester unfolds. Be patient with yourself. You are taking on a new role - the role of a student. As an adult learner you will need to make adjustments.

Study Skills / Tech Talk / Library Lessons

Many students find that their study, computer and library skills are a bit rusty. There are a number of on-campus supports to help you through this period. There are many different methods of learning and studying. Find out what works for you given your busy life. Remember, like any other skills, computer, study and library skills will take time to develop. Refer to the following list for additional ideas and supports.

Study and Learning Skills

Make use of the Math Centre and the Writing Centre if your mathematic or writing skills are rusty. Locations and hours of operation are available online at http://liberalarts.humber. ca/maths/maths_centre. htm and http://liberalarts.humber. ca/eng_dept/write_ctr.htm Take care of yourself. Try and relax as you approach studying and learning new material. Excess stress can affect your ability to take in information and retain new concepts. Get good sleep! When your brain is tired, learning is more difficult. Sleep on it. Get help. No one should suffer on his or her own. Seek out another classmate to study with when convenient. Savour every achievement. Try and put any setbacks or disappointments in perspective. Remember, you are not expected to know everything or be an expert.

Tech Talk
Computing skills are important across the college. Help with computing is available. If you think you are miles behind technically, you may consider taking an introductory computer course. More and more academic material is on the Internet. Your Program will indicate to you what and how you are expected to use the Internet in your studies. It is not necessary to own a personal computer unless already stated for your particular course. However, there are great benefits to having your own PC. You do not have to rely on lab availability and you have more flexibility. If you do not own a computer, computer labs are available for student use.

Library Lessons
Allow yourself time to visit the library. Library tours are available. Ask for additional help if you run into problems as the semester unfolds. Library personnel are there to assist you. As with other challenges, give yourself time to figure things out and use the available supports. We are here to make your transition to Humber as smooth as possible.

The Balancing Act

Mature students are parents, partners, employees, community members and much more. It would be magical thinking to imagine that when you add full-time student to that list you can turn off the other roles you juggle. It is hard to forget an ill child once you walk into your 8:00am class or forget that right after your 4:00pm class you have to rush to your part-time job! Mature students are master jugglers. The trick is to try and balance all the demands on your time and energy. Balancing these demands as a full-time student is a new skill. School will require quite a bit of your time - time you previously had to do other jobs or to simply relax! Dont panic. Like any other new skill, juggling will take time to learn. You will need to consider yourself, your family and your particular situation. Some weeks may go better than others. Be kind to yourself and get help when needed. Here are a few ideas that other mature students have shared in their quest to master the balancing act:

NOTES

Do your homework with young children if you are a parent. Try and involve them in your life as a student. Let them see that mom and dad study and do school work too. Older children may be able to quiz you before a test. Ask your employer in advance what flexibility there can be during exam time or mid terms. You will have this information early in the semester and many employers are able to accommodate if given enough early notice.

Try and take some time each week just for you. There are free classes in the Athletics Centre during school hours. Join a club like the Mature Student Club. Sit and read a magazine for pleasure! Taking some regular time for yourself helps give you energy for those demanding times. The important thing is that this time is just for you. Remember Counselling Services can help at times of high stress.

Get help when needed. Ask family and friends for support. Delegate family jobs when appropriate. Let family members know when you are busy with mid-terms or exams. No one expects perfection. Problem solve as you go and when challenges occur.

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BACK TO CLASS

This handbook is compiled by the Mature Student Advisor. All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of distribution. For further information please contact:

Catherine Wilson-Cheverie Counsellor & Mature Student Advisor Lakeshore Campus, room A120

Volume 4