UNC Charlotte is OASES of Educational Opportunities!
National Counselor
Gamma Rho Chapter
The increasing economic development in the Charlotte Metropolitan region has created a unique challenge for UNC Charlotte. The future prosperity of this area relies on the skills of its employees, thus requiring access to lifelong learning. The nontraditional student population at the university has been growing steadily during the past decade. According to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, almost three-quarters of undergraduate students are nontraditional in some way, with more than one-third of all students being 25 years or older. The classrooms on the UNC Charlotte campus are filled with a diverse student population who offer a variety of innovative ideas and vast experiences. The programs and services required to meet the needs of the students vary and depend on the individual student, particularly adult students. This emerging population of students prompted the need for a nontraditional student support and services office.
In 1995, UNC Charlotte opened an office which was designed to provide services specifically to nontraditional students. Since then, the Office of Adult Students and Evening Services (OASES) has been the home to thousands of nontraditional students who may not have been served otherwise. Students come to OASES for a variety of support programs and services such as: academic counseling, pick-up and delivery services to other campus offices, parking assistance, scholarship opportunities, the Adult Mentoring Program for Students (AMPS), and the NonTraditional Student Organization (NTSO).
The OASES staff wanted to offer an adult student honor society whose purpose was to recognize unique and accomplished nontraditional students. In 1999, the Gamma Rho Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society for adult students, was founded at UNC Charlotte. Alpha Sigma Lambda recognizes the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing obligations of home and work. As of March 16, 2006, the Gamma Rho Chapter will have inducted 662 members. Along with receiving certificate of membership, lapel pin, and graduation tassel, inductees are honored through a formal induction ceremony and reception held in their honor for their families and friends.
Along with recognizing adult learners for academic excellence, the Alpha Sigma Lambda Education Foundation offers various scholarships to provide support to adult learners. The UNC Charlotte Gamma Rho chapter is a charter member of the Triangle Club: Second Century which supports and recognizes high scholastic achievement of adult students by awarding its own scholarship through participation from other university chapters. Currently, forty-eight chapters commit $5.00 per each new initiate towards the Triangle Club: Second Century scholarship fund. The Gamma Rho Chapter is proud to acknowledge Elizabeth Gardner of UNC Charlotte for being awarded the Triangle Club: Second Century scholarship in 2004-2005 and Kelly Thorley as the 2005-2006 Triangle Club
scholarship winner from UNCC.
Alpha Sigma Lambda is reputable and serves as the oldest national honor society for adult students on university campuses today. It is unique in its mission because students can only be invited to join by meeting certain criteria established by their university chapter. Although adult learners have many demanding responsibilities, they can still share in the success of their academic achievement.