An Adult Learner Program catering to the needs of adults in the community is now being offered at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. A partnership between the campus and Intermediate Unit 1, the Adult Learner Program is staffed by IU1 at a newly-opened location housed in Penn State Fayette’s Corporate Training Center. The services include remedial classes in reading, writing and math, which can help adults transition into college-level education.
Sue Conrady, director of Adult, Nonpublic and ESL Education Service with IU1, says the partnership has been discussed for several years. "We feel there are many adults in Fayette County who want to come to Penn State Fayette, but feel they are not ready. This program will help adults with the potential and desire to move into a post-secondary educational setting."
Remedial classes in reading, writing and math are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the morning, with tutoring available in the afternoons. A transition (bridge) program for students planning to attend Penn State is offered on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The bridge program focuses on academic remediation, as well as study skills, test-taking strategies, time management, and career exploration. English as a Second Language classes, or other need-specific classes, are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays as the need arises.
Joe Segilia, Penn State Fayette director of Outreach and Continuing Education, explains, "The bridge program gives adult students a real college experience on a university campus, but without the pressure of being an enrolled student earning college credit. The bridge program being offered by IU1’s Adult Learner Program is free of cost. I encourage students who are motivated to succeed to participate in this new campus initiative for adults."
As Angela Kenes, coordinator of the IU1 Adult Learner Program, explains, "I’ve transitioned many students [into college] over the years, but students who succeed have some self-motivation -- they need to give of themselves to complete the program. These courses are such that students can get a feeling for the academic rigor they will encounter in a college classroom." Kenes said transitioning students also will learn to overcome barriers, discover resources they can use and learn to be self-assured and confident.
The Adult Learner Program at Penn State Fayette is available to current Penn State Fayette adult students 18 years or older for tutoring, as well as local adult residents who are interested in pursuing a college-level education but feel they need to review and refine their basic academic skills before beginning regular classes.
The public is invited to an Open House for the Adult Learner Program at Penn State Fayette from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, in the campus’ Corporate Training Center in the Eberly Building. Information will be available about the Adult Learner Program and its classes and services and visitors can meet staff and current Penn State Fayette students who completed the IU1 program.
For more information about the Adult Learner Program, call 724-430-4100 ext. 4732.