Illinois Valley Community College is introducing virtual Q&A sessions to support its adult student community. The first session is scheduled for March 10 at 3 PM, with two more planned for April 8th and May 7th. The initiative aims to address the unique challenges faced by adult learners, offering them an opportunity to connect and seek guidance. Dr. Tracy Morris, IVCC President, highlighted the goal of building a dedicated resource program for these students. The sessions, requiring no registration, offer flexibility, and adult students currently enrolled are welcome to participate.
One of IVCC’s goals is to develop a dedicated adult student resources program. “These sessions are designed to address the unique needs of our adult student population and to help students begin to build community with other students with similar backgrounds,” said IVCC President Dr. Tracy Morris. “I am very excited to see this initiative begin to take shape and look forward to the positive impact for our students!”
Fitzpatrick recalls the challenges of balancing college with a full-time job and family, emphasizing the importance of this program. The initiative is a response to the varied paths adult students take and aims to provide tailored support systems. The effort will integrate ongoing feedback and develop into a comprehensive resource network, with future sessions planned based on availability and student needs. For additional details, reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].
In Fitzpatrick’s own return to college, she remembers wondering how to fit college into a life filled with a full-time job and raising children. “The hardest part for me was just getting started. I nearly talked myself out of doing it because I did not know where to start,” said Fitzpatrick, who is the Associate Director of Retention for IVCC.
“Adult students are further removed from the education space. We are trying to provide them with similar resources, but also to be there as an advocate for them. We can help them work through paperwork or connect them to services in our community,” Fitzpatrick said.
When she returned to school, Fitzpatrick did a lot on her own. “I had to seek people out and ask questions. If there had been a program like this to help me come back to school, I 100-percent would have welcomed it!”
To access the Zoom meeting, participants can use this link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/