Business : New Directions in Challenging Times: Free Information Sessions for Adults Consid

For working adults worried they don't have enough time for college, people who are between jobs and need more skills, and those who are working but know they could find a better job, the path to education just got a little more clear.

Kirkwood Community College has planned a series of adult learner information sessions. The first of several programs is set for Wednesday, September 18, at 5:30 p.m., in 312 Iowa Hall, on the main Kirkwood campus in Cedar Rapids.

These informal programs can provide potential students with information and options on college as a practical way to consider new career directions. “We hope we can give our visitors the basics about what going back to college is all about. For some it might be a return to higher education, and for others it could be the first time after high school," said Kirkwood Admission Advisor Mark Ash. "We talk to many people who may already have a degree or training and want to come back for some career-specific skills. We believe our programs will give all of them multiple options to think about."

Ash emphasized that one thing prospective students should not imagine is that they will be alone in a class as the only adult in the room.

“Over the last couple of years we have seen a rise in our number of ‘non-traditional’ students at Kirkwood. More than a third of our students are over the age of 22, and with that, a majority of our classes have multiple adults in them. Since we started in the 1960s, Kirkwood has always been welcoming to students of all ages, seeking a lot of different skills and knowledge,” Ash added.

To reserve a place at the free session, visit http://www.kirkwood.edu/adultvisit, call 319-398-5543 or 800-363-2220 and ask for Mark Ash, or e-mail mark.ash@kirkwood.edu.

With the most credit programs of any community college in Iowa, Kirkwood Community College boasts more than 25,000 annual college-credit students, while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers $2.4 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life. Kirkwood is a convenient, innovative and visionary educational leader that strives to remain affordable and accessible.