By Jourdan Craggs
Lamp Staff
SPRINGFIELD — The non-traditional student is the traditional student at Lincoln Land.
Of the 12,000 students at Lincoln Land, 39 percent are over the age of 25, 19 percent are minorities and 58 percent are taking classes on a part-time basis, according to the college’s website.
To an outsider Lincoln Land looks like just an ordinary community college filled with students clamoring after a degree with no other worries in the world. A closer look at the student population reveals that it is more diverse than originally thought.
Non-tradition student Marcy Durbin is grateful Lincoln Land gave her the opportunity to attend school there, but also for the chance to work in the Taylorville office.
Working here made it much easier, Durbin said.
To an outsider Lincoln Land looks like just an ordinary community college filled with students clamoring after a degree with no other worries in the world. A closer look at the student population reveals that it is more diverse than originally thought; student workers with full time positions within the school, single parents taking night classes to make things work at home, former addicts taking a second shot at life, older adults who have never pursued a higher education finally following their true passions after having already worked for many years. The variety of students at Lincoln Land is incredible and one of the most unique things about this community college is that it caters to every single one.
Lincoln Land offers many classes geared towards a more non-traditional student. Some of these include a college skills course, classes to teach someone how to use computer programs and online courses. Night classes are also available to accommodate a hectic schedule. Parents make up a large percentage of the student population and the college runs a DCFS-approved child care that is available to students and the community.
As a college that is focused on student happiness and success, Lincoln Land offers a lot of its jobs to current and former students. This gives students a sense of pride in their school as well as providing a much needed paycheck for them to take home. All the ladies in the front office of the Taylorville campus are former students and have a better understanding of what is needed when helping current students.
Debbie Hawthorne described Lincoln Land as one of the best schooling experiences she’s had, “I was never very good in school growing up and it became a discouraging experience for me when nobody cared enough to help when I was struggling. At Lincoln Land they have so many tools available to me to use it’s almost impossible to fail this time around.”
With such a positive and encouraging environment it’s easy to see why more students of the non-traditional variety are choosing Lincoln Land to obtain their education.
Jourdan Craggs can be reached at [email protected]
