Yes, Ferris Bueller did it! That is, a whole day off! Let Northeast Texas Community College provide that day just for you!

According to the fall 2004 enrollment report from the Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) Admissions Office, 212 students were GED recipients. The NTCC Adult Education De-partment has a new goal to increase the number of enrolling GED students for the 2005 fall semester. Students must be motivated by teachers and also by themselves to continue their education, and this project was designed to do just that.

In working with undereducated adults, those who are 17 and withdrawn from school and have no high school diploma, one of the performance measures that teachers seek to complete is transition. It is the goal of the NTCC Adult Education Program to have a minimum of 26% of adult students with their own goal of entering postsecondary education or training actually enroll in postsecondary education or training during the fiscal year.

For the majority of GED graduates, the transition to college or training programs is no easy task. Barriers such as financial support, transportation and childcare are insurmountable. The college campus is not a familiar or comfortable place. Faculty and administrative personnel are somewhat intimidating. For many under-educated adults, they are the first members of their families to attend college. Many do not have role models to assist or encourage them.

With these issues facing adult education students concerning transition to college, teachers find that they become counselors who provide motivation and help build confidence in transition students. Teachers also provide information concerning enrollment procedures, financial aid and advisement on “How to choose a career path”. In order to better prepare students for transition, teachers now provide transition counseling as a part of all adult education new student orientations and also as students exit to take the GED exam.

The Whatley Employee Enhancement Fund will provide local funds for the NTCC Adult Education Department to host 20 adults receiving their GED for a special summer campus event. The event will assist with student recruitment, enrollment and counseling for prospective fall NTCC students.

Adult Education teachers will recruit 20 adult education participants for the summer project with an emphasis on equal opportunity for minorities and non-traditional students. Participants will be selected also based on needs; desire to attend college, class participation and attendance and having obtained the GED, or probable chance of passing the GED by fall 2005.

Adult education students will arrive at the NTCC campus and be greeted by their adult education teachers on August 4, 2005 at 9 a.m. Students and teachers begin the event by being a part of the formal NTCC orientation. Prospective NTCC students will be addressed by NTCC faculty, staff and counselors. Orientation will include financial aid options along with course descriptions. Students will be given information regarding the NTCC Business Office, the college bookstore, the NTCC Learning Resource Center (college library), the career center and various student activities. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and participate in discussions concerning classes, schedules and the registration process. Orientation will conclude with individual formal counseling/testing/registration information, advisement and registration. A walking tour of the college campus will conclude the orientation.

Lunch will then be provided for the 20 adult education campus guests in the NTCC Student Union Building. Students will hear a motivational speaker and musical entertainment. At the close of the luncheon, participants will be recognized for their educational efforts in obtaining or seeking the GED and also their desire to continue their education. All students will receive a complimentary NTCC t-shirt to promote the college and complimentary theater tickets to a NTCC play performance held in the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts.

It was the goal of NTCC to increase the overall student enrollment for fall 2004 by 10%. In keeping with this goal for fall 2005, the NTCC Adult Education Department seeks to assist with recruitment and enrollment at NTCC by increasing the number of GED graduates who enroll at NTCC either for credit classes or training programs.

NTCC is looking forward to this special summer event for adult education students. Many times, adult education students need someone to motivate them to continue and let them know that transition to college or training programs can become a reality for them, too.

So, GED grads, join with Ferris Bueller and have your day off at NTCC this summer! You deserve it!

After teaching first grade for 13 years, Sue Barker began work for Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC). In 1987, through NTCC and a Title 6 grant, she established a library literacy program in her hometown of Mt. Vernon, Texas. Today, Sue serves as Director of Adult Education at NTCC. Recently, a community college student wrote of adult education efforts, “It is such important work, and it means so much.” Ms. Barker holds a Masters Degree in Education from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas.