A Wonder 0£ (The)
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A wonder 0£ (the) age At Concordia to be a 'mature' student doesn't have to mean you're old; our Centre for Mature Students is ready and able to help all new students over 21 by Ross Rogers ince the late 1960s, Concordia has garnered considerable praise for opening its work force, and they may feel disillusioned with what they're doing." This is where the doors to students from all walks of life. "A Lifetime of Learning" continues to be Centre for Mature Students enters into the picture. Says Diubaldo: "We help them cross S one of the University's famed credos. And today, a natural extension of what used the threshhold. Our function is (as) a bridging service." to be limited to "adult education" is the work of the Centre for Mature Students. The director adds that mature students learn to fit in rapidly. But naturally, he says Established in 1978, the Centre was set up to give students with "mature" entry they might have a little more visibility than the average student in a classroom setting. He status the counselling they need to fit into the mainstream of University life, says cites an example of an older man in class who has an uncanny recollection of World War Director of the Centre and Professor of History Richard Diubaldo. Coming to school Two . "He has lived through the war. The only thing the other students may know is what after years in the work force or after a long absence, mature students appreciate their grandparents have told them." guidance, he says. , · Some of the University's staff have already met and probably won't-forget a student "Mature students have a different perspective," continues Diubaldo, and the who is very likely their senior - Thomas Madden. Seventy-six years old, Madden experience they gain with age has given them the general education younger students decided to enroll in various Arts courses because he liked the "young, fresh approach. might acquire at the collegiate level. "No, I didn't want to go from being a slave to work to being a slave "Mature students don't meet traditional admission requirements. to University," says Madden, who is retired from a large oil company. But what they learn in.the workforce often makes them a vital part of "What attracts mature "I saw the ad in the paper. I knew I wouldn't necessarily have the onus the University fabric," says Diubaldo. He points out that "Mature" students to go back to of exams. So I thought, this would really be stimulating. I don't intend can be misleading. Although Seniors certainly make up a portion of school is as varied as the to stop for a long time!" students enrolled at the Centre, the qualifying age is 21 years and students themselves" Career decision older. "They come from all walks of life," says Diubaldo. "The one - Diubaldo Other students approach the Centre because after some experi thing that a full-time nurse and CEGEP student usually have in ence in the workforce, they feel they could really benefit from more common at university is the desire to learn." And that, it seems, is the schooling. Betty Olson, 27, previously a secretary at Dawson College, working principal of the Centre. 'Can I cope?' enrolled in an English program because "I always wanted to . write. It was an 'Iypically, a mature student could approach the Centre for counselling, workshops in overwhelniing decision for me. To drop a job and regular income isn't easy. But I knew note taking, effective reading, term-paper writing, exam preparation, Math anxiety and what I really wanted to do." assertiveness in the classroom. The Centre is structured around a Council of Fellows, Olson believes it was one of her wisest career decisions, but not necessarily for every University officials from various departments who are matched to students according to student. "I personally needed to wait it out after high school. The Centre was a great their needs.For almost every student who makes the decision to return to school, there is help. It's a place where I can breathe." often a great deal of anxiety. "They ask themselves, Can I cope in a university? Am I Today,. Concordia University continues to nurture a growing segme_nt of the good enough?" says Diubaldo. "It's natural that mature students are a little undergraduate student population known as "mature students." For information, apprehensive. I'm not just talking Math anxiety. I'm talking basic fears about speaking contact the Centre at 848-3892. up in class and feeling stupid." What attracts mature students to go back to school is as varied as the students themselves, he says. "Although we know that some come here for the Magic Paper, others are here to broaden horizons. Some people reach a certain age after being in the • See how the mature "Sparkle," page 2 Evaluating the evaluation systeID Last Wednesday and Thurs fessional Task Force that select the assemblies and many that assemblies, CUNASA circu Force members listed above, or day two well-attended general ed the new evaluation system were not - will be addressed in lated a memo asking for repre contact Carole Kleingrib, Task assemblies were held on the and Faculty Personnel Admin a newsletter that will be distrib sentatives from all classifica Force Chair and Assistant to west end and downtown cam istrator; Lynn Prendergast, uted to inform all non-academ tions to participate as members the Vice-Rector, Institutional puses to explain the new Job Task Force member and Asso ic staff about the progress of of the Job-Evaluation Project Relations and Finance, or Den Evaluation System · being ciate Director of Admissions; the job evaluation process dur Committee. ·nis Dicks, Task Force member implemented at Concordia. Colleen Bronson, Task Force ing the next 15 mqnths. In the _meantime, employees and Vice-Dean, Curriculum, The system will assess the membe_r and Guidance Services Consultations have already seeking additional information for the Faculty of Arts and skills and responsibilities asso receptionist; Sandra Spina, begun; immediately after the can communicate with the Task Science. ciated with all non-academic Task Force member and a secre jobs at Concordia, determine tary in the Psychology Depart an equitable salary for those ment; Colin Waters, Task Force Money. • • auto01atically jobs according to market value member and Salary Adminis and internal equity, and ensure trator; and Maurice Cohen, The electronic distribution of As of Thursday, April 21st, - Student Accounts, Norris better career planning and Vice-Rector Institutional Rela paycheques announced last the system will become fully Building; Loyola Campus - equal employment opportuni~ tions and Finance. October is ready to begin. operational, meaning the full Student Accounts, Administra ties. Mercier presented a slide As a final pre-operation amount of your cheque will be tion Building. Participants at the assem show outlining the system's check, a test has been set up for deposited electronically. A memo explaining next blies in~luded Andree Mercier, details, then opened the floor next week. Those who normally pick up week's payroll test will appear a consultant from an outside to questions. One concern An amount of $5 will be their paycheques in the payroll in the March 24th cheque enve 'firm - the Wyatt Company - raised was the importance of deducted from the March 25th office or on the mezzanine in lopes. hired to . oversee implementa communicating all relevant pay and deposited directly into the Hall Bulding, or those who In the past paycheques were tion of the system here; Liana · information about the system the bank accounts designated have not yet returned the distributed Thursday but were Howes, CUNASA President and its implementation to all by Concordia employees. Any required information to Pay dated Friday. Now, however, and Administrative Assistant Concordia staff. foul-ups or problems (i.e., if roll, will have to pick up their for those who participate in the to the Director of Admissions; A summary of Mercier's the $5 does not turn up in your cheques in person as of April electronic system, your pay Pat Freed, a member of the presentation and staff concerns · account) should be reported by 21st at the following locations: becomes available on Thurs Administrative Support/Pro-. - including questions raised at April 8th to Payroll . Sir George Williams Campus days at 7 a.m. Page 2 TIIE TIIURSDAY REPORT March 17, 1988 A fantily Inatter .. The world-renowned Indian Institute of Science in Banga lore, India, has just instituted two awards in the name of M.N.S. Swamy, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science: The Dr. M.N.S. Swamy Merit Scholarship is to be awarded annually to the highest-ranking third year student in the integrated Master of Engineering program in Electrical Engineering and Electric~ Communication Engi neering. The Dr. M.N. S. Swamy Gold Medal goes to the highest ranking graduate from that same four-year program . · . The results of the 1987 Centraide Campaign are in: The objective of $22,344 was surpassed by more than $8,000, bringing the total funds collected to $30,654. That generosity will be felt by the 193 agencies which are a part of the Centraide family .. Following up on last week's announcement of Gary Richards' departure: Carolishka Locas has been named Acting Director of Alumni Affairs . .. Hats off to three Fine Arts (Cinema) students who won top awards at the recent 9th International Festival of Young Cinema in Montreal. Jean-Franrois Pothier won the 'Grand Concordia's writer-in-residence Jack Winter hasn't spent his time staring at the muse.