The mission of Adult Learner Services at Athens State University is to serve the adult working student who has completed some college coursework without completing a baccalaureate degree. To encourage student success, the Adult Learner Services program is designed to reduce or eliminate barriers for returning adult students while providing academically sound alternative methods to apply knowledge gained from the integration of work and classroom experience and to assist the student in the timely achievement of their professional and career goals.

Goals

  • To facilitate student success by offering what we do best – meeting the educational needs of today’s adult or non-traditional student.
  • To actively support and facilitate the student’s goal to complete a degree in a reasonable time frame.
  • To prepare adult students for professional, managerial, and leadership roles, while delivering a rigorous and quality path to degree completion.
  • To emphasize the development of communication skills, technology skills, analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to compete in a global environment.
  • To instill in adult students the desire to learn and understand ethical practices, as expected of them in both the public and private sectors.

The Adult Learner Services program at Athens State University is an acknowledgment of the philosophy that it is a valid educational practice to recognize and award academic credit for various types of learning attained outside the institution. Such learning may have been acquired through certain educational programs conducted by the government, business and industry, the military, and other non-collegiate organizations. In addition, non-traditional academic credit may be awarded for acceptable work experience, and/or technical training. The method for documenting and evaluating this non-traditional activity is called Prior Learning Assessment.

Orientation

During their first semester at Athens State University, all Adult Learner Services Program students must register for ADP 301. Taught by the Adult Learner Services Director and/or Adult Learner Services Advising Counselor, this course will provide new students with an overview of the principles of adult learning and the essential skills needed for academic and professional success. It will include information related to academic and personal resources available to students, developing successful time management and study skills, navigating through the Athens State email system and the Canvas learning management system, and remote access to the Athens State Library. This course will also guide students through the elements of prior learning assessment and the development of a professional portfolio. This is a 3-credit hour course that may be delivered in a traditional, blended, or completely distance learning format.

View the ADP301 Course Syllabus

Student Advising

Athens State University is strongly committed to providing student support services that meet the unique needs of the non-traditional students enrolled in the Adult Learner Services Program. The University has dedicated specific personnel, instructional, and physical resources to this effort. These individuals will:

  • define educational goals and select a program of study for the student
  • select appropriate coursework each semester
  • interpret institutional requirements
  • understand the portfolio process
  • identify non-traditional learning experiences

In addition, Adult Learner Services staff will maintain an on-going method of communication with each student for the purpose of following academic progress and providing student support.

Cost & Fees

Each Adult Learner Services program student is required to register for the 3-semester hour ADP301 course during their first semester of enrollment at Athens State. Regular tuition and fee rates apply to this course. In addition, there is a required textbook for this course.

The portfolio submission fee is $200 which is non-refundable and due at the time of submission. This fee is for the assessment of the portfolio document and not for the “purchase of credit;” therefore, the assessment fee is not refunded if the petition for credit is not granted.

Upon evaluation of the portfolio, a posting fee will be charged at the following rate.

  • $10/per credit hour for lower-level credit
  • $50/per credit hour for upper-level credit

Upon completion of degree requirements, Adult Learner Services program students will follow the University’s graduation application procedure to include a $50 application fee.

Felicia Mucci Photo

Felicia Mucci

Director, Adult Learner Services Office
Kayla Kohanek-Tankersley Photo

Kayla Kohanek-Tankersley

Adult Learner Services Office Advisor

CAEL SealAthens State University is a proud member of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), which recognizes institutions and organizations who support adult learners in their educational journey to career pathways.