The School of Continuing Education will sponsor a week of activities called Nontraditional Student Week to recognize nontraditional students in the Eastern Community.

Beth Craig, the coordinator of program development for the School of Continuing Education, said the week was started to recognize students who work hard to pursue a college degree while dealing with many of life’s other responsibilities.

Craig said a nontraditional student is typically older than 25 years old, has significant life responsibilities, works either full- or part-time, and has a significant other and oftentimes children.

Nontraditional Student Week is done nationwide during the first week of November and Craig said it has been a part of Eastern for several years.

“We want students to be recognized for all the hard work they do not only during class, but in life as well,” she said.

Craig said the population of nontraditional students is growing nationwide, so any efforts done throughout the year to recognize them should be commended.

“We’re all lifelong learners,” she said. “It’s important for everyone on campus to be able to see how hard these students work.”

The week will include a variety of activities, including a bowling activity, a webinar, a pizza party.

The webinar offered on Tuesday, which will be accessible from the School of Continuing Education’s website, will be presented by Bobbi Kingery from Career Services.

Another feature of the week is the second meeting of the Organization of Adult Students Informative and Supportive.

The meeting will take place as Wednesday’s event.

On Thursday, to close out the week, an open house and awards ceremony for nontraditional and commuter students is scheduled.

She said the main goal of the week is to recognize all types of nontraditional students and make the campus community more aware of the hard work and effort they contribute to Eastern.

“There are nontraditional students across all majors, so it’s important for everyone on campus to know the influence they have,” she said.

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.