Individuals aged 23 or over who have been out of high school or away from college for about five years have a unique opportunity to enroll in college through OSU Mansfield's Access to Higher Education program.  The program is designed to provide financial and practical support to nontraditional students while helping them in their dream to complete an associate's or bachelor's degree.

Our Access to Higher Education program currently enrolls about 35 women and men, ranging in age from 23-65 years of age. Students feel very comfortable with our small, friendly campus and are better able to manage tuition costs with the one-third discount offered through the program.

Here are some of the other benefits of the program:

• Help in finding other college financial support such as scholarships, grants and low-interest loans.

• Possible work-study employment opportunities on campus or off campus, conveniently located near your home.

• Regular workshops designed to support you and the other students in the program with topics such as time management, raising children while in college, resume and interview preparation, and study skills.

• Mentors who are already succeeding in the Access program.

Your commitment to the program:

• Participants are required to commit at least two years of full or part time classes at OSU Mansfield with the intention of completing at least an associate's degree within about three years.

• Regular attendance in Access to Higher Education monthly meetings on campus during autumn through spring quarters.

• Attendance at an introductory workshop during the summer.

• Second, third and fourth year Access students are required to mentor incoming and less experienced Access students through their own participation in the Access program.

• First and second year students are required to participate in the summer workshop.

• Third and fourth year students will complete requirements for tuition assistance by volunteering for Access to Higher Education programming based on their individual areas of expertise.

For more information, or to apply for the program, contact Linda Reno, OSU Mansfield, at 419-755-4230, or by e-mail at reno.1@osu.edu.