| Get Involved | Programs | Services | Resources | About Us |
If you are reading this handbook, it is most likely that someone has told you that you are nontraditional student. But, what exactly is a nontraditional student? The definition of a nontraditional student varies by college or university. Some include commuting students that are considered to be traditional (18-22) in age, and others only consider Adult Learners to be nontradtional students.
At the University of Kansas, a nontraditional student is some who:
The Nontraditional Student Services (NSS) office serves as a resource for nontraditional student questions. It holds information such as health insurance, carpooling, nontrad scholarship opportunities and other campus resources. The NSS also works with other various organizations and offices in order to put on programming that will bring nontrads together.
The Nontraditional Student Services office is located on the 4th floor of the Kansas Union in room 400,
also called the Center for Campus Life.
The mailing address is:
The Student Involvement and Leadership Center
Nontraditional Student Services
The University of Kansas
Kansas Union
1301 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 400
Lawrence, KS 66045
Office: 785-864-2487
nontrads@ku.edu
The easiest way to apply for admission to KU is through the KU Office of Admissions web site! It has all of the information that you would need to answer your questions about the admissions process, and it has online applications for admission. Make sure that you know if you are a New Freshman, Transfer, Re-Admitted, or Non-degree-seeking student before filling out an application for admission!
The first question that you should ask yourself is, "How do I qualify for admission?" here are the
requirements
for Undergraduate admission into the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at KU.
Submit a completed application with the $30 fee before the appropriate deadline and meet one of
the following:
A Non-degree-seeking Student
is someone who:
In order to apply for re-admission, you must fill out the re-admit application.
Many nontraditional students do not realize that they can apply for scholarships and financial aid. Scholarships are given out to all different types of students, not just freshman. There is all kinds of money out in the world and on the internet that is waiting to be given to students; you just have to find it!
Financial aid is not just for traditional students; it is for everyone! The first step to getting financial aid starts with applying for a PIN number for federal financial aid. Your next step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
All of this information (and more) can be found on the KU Office of Student Financial Aid's web site. The web site includes an Application Checklist for completing the various forms for receiving financial aid.
Freshman Scholarships are given to incoming students who:
Transfer Scholarships are given to transfer students who:
The Nontraditional Student Services office posts information in the Spring about scholarships that are specifically for nontrads. The scholarships include both grads and undergrads, and allow international students to apply. Applications are typically out in the end of March and beginning of April. If you are interested, you will need to contact the Nontraditional Student Services office.
Once you have been admitted into the university and have applied for financial aid, you will want to figure out what classes you are going to take and then enroll in them! For ALL freshman and sophomores it is necessary to go to an advisor in order to enroll in classes. The Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center is the place to find an advisor that will help you decide what classes to take for your major, or if you are undecided, they will help you find classes that will count for your general education requirements.
If you are not majoring in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and are in another School
(i.e. School of Engineering, School of Social Welfare, etc.) and need an advisor, you should contact
your school's advising office.
Many incoming students have no idea what they want to major in; they are not sure what they want to do with their lives. The University of Kansas wants every student to succeed in what they pursue, and one of the best ways to succeed is to major in something that you are interested in! If you are unsure about what you are really interested in, Career Counseling and Planning Services can help you find your interests. The Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center also has a tip sheet for choosing a major. You can also look at the Undergraduate Catalog to see what may interest you.
The first thing that you should do is request a KU Online ID. After receiving your KU Online ID, you can view open classes by going to www.students.ku.edu and logging in. You then click on the "Academics" tag and a list of links should pop up on the left hand side of the screen. In order to find classes, you need to click on the link that says "Browsable Timetable". The other way to find courses is to go to www.opensections.ku.edu.
The University of Kansas has online enrollment; therefore, all enrolling in classes is done online unless otherwise specified by an instructor or department. To enroll, you will login to the Kyou Student Portal and click on the "Academics" tag. The links to the left should have one labeled "Enroll & Pay"; this is the link you will need to go to for enrolling in classes. From there, you will need to go through the following steps:
After logging in to the "Enroll & Pay" page,
KU is a big place, and sometimes it is hard to figure out what you need to do and where you need to go! If you have trouble figuring out what needs to be done, make sure you ask someone.
First you may ask yourself, what is a KUID? What is the difference between my KU Online ID and my KUID? Well, the KUID is the actual card that you will use throughout your time here at KU. Some classes require that you show them your KUID during tests in order to prove that you are in the class and are the person who is supposed to take the test. In order to do many things on campus, you must present your KUID. The KUID has benefits for students by letting you get student tickets for sports events (as well as student discounts around town!)
Your KU Online ID is only used for online purposes such as e-mail, finding out information about your account statuses, and logging on to the KYou website.
Many nontraditional students feel like they are not a part of the University, but this is not the case. There are around 4000 nontraditional students on campus! Sometimes this is hard to believe because there may be very few nontrads in your classes, but you are not alone! When many students first come to KU, they commonly feel a bit overwhelmed. KU's campus is large and diverse, so some students may have a little trouble finding their spot in KU. This feeling can be overcome if you ask for help! Sometimes people just need to be pointed in the right direction.
As a nontraditional student in a class full of traditional students, it can be a little overwhelming. That is why it is important for you to get to know your peers (nontraditional and traditional). Once you get to know how the other people in your class are feeling, you will find that it is easier to communicate in class. Though many nontrads happen to be older than the traditional student, age does not have to be a barrier! You may find that you actually have similar interests to the traditional students.
Sometimes you can not tell the difference between a nontrad, traditional student, or a professor on campus. That is why the Organization of Adult Knowledge Seekers (OAKS) was formed! OAKS is the nontraditional student organization on campus. Its main purpose is to let nontrads know that they are not alone. OAKS provides an opportunity for nontraditional students to meet each other by sponsoring a Brown Bag Lunch once a week. This event is a great way for nontrads (and traditional students) to get to know each other!
A great way to meet a variety of people on campus is to get involved in an organization. There are many organizations on campus, over 400! It is likely that you will find something that interests you, but if there is not, then you can make your own organization! You can find information about the organizations by contacting the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. This is where the student organizations on campus are registered. You can also go online and find information about organizations by going to http://www.ku.edu/organizations.
This question is asked by all students at every different level in Higher Education. The key to succeeding is finding a way to study that works for you; not someone else! Some people try different study skills. Others make sure that they attend every class, and some try to get to know people within their classes to study and swap notes with. Whatever method you choose, it should be the one that is easiest for you, and helps you understand the topics that you are studying.
Many people do not know where to start when it comes to studying. The Student Development Center (SDC) offers information about study skills and strategies that come in handy for all students. They also offer different workshops throughout the year that are geared towards academic success. The SDC also has a list of tutoring services that are available in the different academic departments during the semester.
One of the easiest ways to succeed in a class is to go to it! Many classes have attendance policies, so it is necessary to go to class in order to maintain a grade. The other classes (who don't have attendance policies) are equally important to your education. If you have to miss a class, make sure to let your instructor know in advance. If it is an emergency, try to write the professor an e-mail or give them a call in their office to let them know why you could not attend.
Another way to succeed in a class is to meet the instructor and the people in the class. Some students find that they feel more confident and comfortable when they know who their peers and instructors are. By getting to know your peers, you make contacts and resources. The resources that your peers can provide can be very helpful when it comes to studying! Many students form study groups. Some people may understand a subject better than you might, so let them help you! The only downside to study groups would be the possibility of an uneven work load. Make sure that everyone takes part equally!
Getting to know your instructor can be very important. Feedback about what the students do and do not understand helps the instructor with lesson planning, so make sure that you let them know if you don't get something; it is likely that other students do not understand too! Building a teacher/student relationship with your instructor can also come in handy when you need reference letters and recommendations, so let your instructor know that you are there and want to learn!
If you need help with your classes or other class projects, make sure that you ask someone! Many students fail to get help when they need it. If you have trouble understanding something, make sure that you ask questions; that is what the instructors and student services people are there for!
The first person that you should ask for clarification or help is your instructor. Try and get all of the information about what they want from your assignment. If you have questions that seem too simple, make sure you ask them anyway! You never know what kind of answer you will receive.
There are many different types of libraries and museums on campus. They are a great resource for student projects and assignments. Libraries can also be a peaceful place to study during breaks and during the evening.
The library staff is always willing to help you find what you need! If you want to search for information by yourself, a good resource is the University of Kansas Libraries web site. The web site contains an online catalog of books that the libraries carry. This is a fast way to find the books that you need before you actually go to the library and get them. The site also has links to library hours and locations.
If you need one-on-one help with a certain subject, there are many ways that you can get someone to tutor you! One of the easiest ways is to contact your instructor to see what or who they recommend. Another way to get tutoring services is to contact the Student Development Center (SDC). The SDC offers tutoring services in several different areas of study. There are also other tutoring services on campus such as the Writing Center and the Help Rooms for subjects such as math.
