IMMEDIATE FEBRUARY 18, 2004
ACE SEMINAR SUCCESSFULLY PREPARES
TIFTON--Adults who have always wanted
to further their education are building their confidence and making the
decision to begin or re-enter college, thanks to the Adult College Entry (ACE) Seminar
offered by
The unique 11-week seminar, which ABAC began offering in January 2003, focuses on learning opportunities for adults and provides a system of support services that prepares them for college entry and success. In the ACE Seminar, students are in a comfortable setting with other adults who are also just starting college. They learn valuable skills to help them succeed, including note taking, time management, and various study skills in a program tailored to their personal needs and goals.
Prospective students also learn important information about admissions, financial aid, placement testing, and career and transfer programs available at ABAC. The ACE Seminar is a collaboration among ABAC admissions, financial aid, student development, evening and off- campus programs, learning support, registrar, and faculty.
This semester, 45 students who have successfully completed the ACE Seminar are enrolled in ABAC classes. Ten of these students are in their first semester. The average institutional GPA of the 35 students who have attended ABAC prior to this semester is 3.22. The average number of hours earned is 7.8.
Linda West of Naylor, who is enrolled in ABAC’s new certificate program for paraprofessionals that leads to an A.S. degree in education, said going through the ACE Seminar was one of the best things in her life.
“Being with others my own age made me feel more comfortable about going to college,” West said. “Dr. [Gail] Dillard [ABAC’s Director of Evening and Off-Campus Programs] was wonderful. She kept us informed about everything we needed to know in order to register, and she continues to be a great support to me. I would highly recommend the ACE Seminar to others who are interested in starting or re-entering college. The seminar helped me realize that it is
never too late to get a college education. I plan to continue until I graduate with a degree that will enable me to teach children.”
Melinda Ray, a human services major
from
“Since I am 24 years old, I really didn’t feel too uncomfortable about entering college during this point in my life, so I didn’t really need reassurance,” Ray said. “What I needed most from the ACE Seminar was a helping hand in actually enrolling in college. During the seminar, everything was very convenient for us. For example, representatives from the financial aid office came over and personally helped us fill out our paperwork. I’m the type of person who needs that helping hand to get started, and once I’m started, I’ll be on my way.”
Ray,
who is currently in her second semester at ABAC, plans to work as a Family
Case Manager with the HeadStart Program when she graduates from ABAC.
While employed at HeadStart, she plans to attend
The percentage of adults who enroll at ABAC after completing the ACE Seminar is proof positive that the seminar is beneficial to its participants and helps ease their transition into college.
During the 2003 fall semester, 77.8 percent of students who completed the ACE Seminar were enrolled at ABAC, and 71 percent are currently enrolled during the 2004 spring semester.
Dillard said working with the ACE Seminar participants is the best part of her job.
“It is extremely gratifying to witness the excitement these adults experience as they prepare for college and then actually enroll in classes,” she said. “Fear seems to be a great barrier to adult entry into college. The ACE program alleviates that fear by providing individual attention and a support system that convinces prospective adult students that they can be successful.”
An ACE Seminar is scheduled to begin May 18 in
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