Diana Hill, administrative support assist for financial aid and veteran certifying official, answers questions about scholarships, grants and loans during New Student Orientation.
Increase of adult learners and evening classes
prompts additional hours
To accommodate the increase of adult learners and evening classes, Penn State New Kensington continues to expand its academic services.
During the spring 2014 semester, which began Jan.13, the offices of Admissions, Business/Finance, Registrar, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, Continuing Education, Chancellor, Student Affairs, Student Life, Athletics, Health Services, Career Services, and the Academic and Career Success Center, will be open until 7:30 p.m. every Monday until the end of the semester. The exceptions are Jan. 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday) and March 10 (spring break).
“We want to offer our evening students the services that will help them to best navigate Penn State and help them to succeed,” said Andrea Adolph, director of academic affairs. “We welcome evening students and want to be responsive to their needs.”
Three departments -- Student Affairs, Blissell Library and Computer Center – will continue their longtime policies of regular evening hours all semester. The Student Affairs office is open until 6 p.m. Tuesday -Thursday. Blissell Library and the Computer Center close at 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and at 5 p.m. on Friday. In addition to its weekday hours, the library is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. All campus offices open at 8 a.m. during the week.
Adult learners, including veterans, comprise approximately 31 percent of the student population at the campus. The number of vets at the campus is expected to rise in the next few years as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars wind down and more military personnel fulfill their service obligations and return to civilian status.
Evening programs are an essential component of class offerings for adult learners, many of whom work full-time jobs. Four campus bachelor’s programs -- Business, Information Sciences and Technology, Nursing and Organizational Leadership -- can be completed at night.
The evening schedule complements another support feature for non-traditional students, the Adult Learner Resource Center and Lounge, which gives adult learners their own space on the campus. Located next to the Student Life office on the lower level of the Administration building, the lounge includes a small library of resource books, coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, a computer and printer, white board, table and chairs for small group study and comfortable chairs for relaxation. Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.
For more on evening programs, visit http://nk.psu.edu/Admissions/45195.htm