Services & Resources

It is the intent of SSU to provide this grievance procedure in order that these serious concerns might be resolved completely and amicably. We, therefore fully intend that these internal remedies be exhausted prior to the filing of any legal action.

Students who feel that a decision by a Counseling Center staff member/staff designee or a Supervisor does not fully comply with State Licensure and university policies and procedures should follow the appropriate procedure as outlined below:

Complaints by Students of Counseling Violations by Counseling Center Students should first meet with the Director of Counseling Services and attempt to resolve the problem informally. It is anticipated that most questions will be resolved in this way. Cases unresolved at the Director’s level may be appealed to the Director of Student Development. The Director of Counseling Services will assist the student in making an appointment with and will forward materials relevant to the complaint to the Director of Student Development. The Director of Student Development will meet with the student in an attempt to resolve the compliant. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Director of Student Development, the student will be assisted in appealing to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and will forward all relevant materials to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. The Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs will meet with the student and attempt to resolve the appeal. If the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and the student are not successful, the student will be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs, then the President of the University and ultimately to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

The term nontraditional student is not a precise one, although age and part-time status are common defining characteristics (Bean & Metzner, 1985). The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) study examining the relationship between nontraditional status and persistence in post secondary education identified nontraditional students using information on their enrollment patterns, financial dependency status, and persistence in secondary education. They identified the following characteristics:

• Delays enrollment
• Attend part time for at least part of the academic year
• Works full time (35 hours or more per week) while enrolled
• Is considered financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid
• Has dependents other than a spouse
• Is a single parent
• Does not have a high school diploma

Did you know you are part of a growing number of adults over the age of 25 who are returning to school? Presently, adult students make up approximately one third of college students nationwide and this figure is expected to increase (to over 6.4 million by 2007). There are many reasons adult students choose to return to school, including personal development, career change, change in life situation, and many others. Regardless of the circumstances, most adult students find the experience to be rewarding. At Savannah State University, we believe you have made a good choice and that your experience at SSU will be valuable and rewarding.

Begin with classes you feel confident about. Don’t feel that you have to tackle the most challenging subjects first. Sometimes the easier courses may help you adjust better, and give you a sense of accomplishment from passing them with higher grades. This will build your confidence and prepare you for the more difficult courses.

Try online classes. This may give you a more flexible schedule, save you a commute and allow you to work around job and family obligations. Some online classes may be more tedious than coming to class, so ask questions about the requirements before enrolling.

Consider taking summer classes, but schedule carefully. Most summer semesters are compressed, so it’s wise to take fewer classes than you would in a typical term.

Know your drop deadlines and book return policies. Many schools will not refund your tuition or will refund only a percentage if you drop a course more than one or two weeks into the term and many bookstores will not accept returns after a certain date.

Don’t be afraid to meet and get to know other students – even the ‘youngsters.’ Walk the yard or spend some time in King Frazier Student Center. 6. Use faculty office hours! Take time to get to know all your teachers, get a feel for who they are and what they expect and let them get to know about you and your interests also.

Give yourself plenty of time to complete assignments. Most teachers will hand out a course syllabus at the beginning of the semester so students will know what to expect; so try to start projects and special assignments early.

Look for departments or organizations designed specifically for older students. At SSU we have a number of various student organizations and one organization called the Non-traditional Student Association. Participation in these may provide you with information, support and the ability to experience mutual aid from the sharing of like experiences.

Finally, allow yourself room to be human! Don’t try to be something you’re not. Many older students try too hard to fit in, joining social clubs and hanging out with the younger students all of the time. You don’t have to do this, unless it’s something you really want to do. If you want to do it, that’s fine. But you don’t have to pretend to be “one of the kids.” You have a lot to offer by being yourself. Many students will look up to you, admiring your initiative and zeal for balancing career, education and family. Many others will simply look past you, because you don’t ‘fit in’, but that’s okay too.

S.T.A.R. (Students That Are Rising) mission is to improve higher education outcomes and retention for disconnected students, who are experiencing food insecurity, are designated as homeless or housing insecure, former foster youth and those who consider themselves to need indigent support; through the use of campus-community supportive networks and resources.

Learn More About STAR

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Testing Center Location
King Frazier 2nd floor
Suite 233

Please call 912-358-3129 or come by to schedule an appointment.