Plan benefits older students

By Grant Fischer
Staff writer

Lisa Walkup realized that she was different than most of her classmates when her 17-year-old daughter helped her with her homework.

Walkup is just one of over 2000 non-traditional students at Purdue who are eligible for the Span Plan program. The program aims to help educate people over a life span and gives those who are 24 or older the opportunity to attend Purdue.

It’s a great opportunity because admission is automatic if the students are over 24, and they don’t have to maintain a certain grade point average to stay at Purdue, said Dorothy Hughes, a counselor in the Span Plan program.

The majority of the students in the program are in their 30s and 40s, and most come back to school because they’re not completely happy with their life, said Hughes.

"Since the Purdue system is so new to them, Span offers a variety of services for the students," said Hughes.

The services include orientations throughout the year, grants for part time students, and academic, career and personal counseling year round.

"The thing my counselor told me this year was to sit in the front row and go to all my classes," said John Rudolph, who is an art history major.

Rudolph attended Purdue in the mid-'70s, and then worked as a real estate agent for 18 years.

Rudolph, like many non-traditional students, came back to school because it’s something he didn’t finish.

"It’s great being back. There is just so much energy on campus," said Rudolph. "It kind of makes you feel younger, but I still realize that I’m usually the oldest in all my classes. When I’m carrying my backpack I feel more like a student."

Walkup, in her third semester at Purdue, is a non-degree student who is in the process of getting her certificates in organizational leadership supervision technology.

Walkup said she wanted to go to college after high school, but got married and a job instead.

"Now that my daughter is 17, I thought it would be a good time to go back," said Walkup.

Along with taking classes at Purdue and Ivy Tech, Walkup works at the Purdue admissions office. There she helps organize Boiler Gold Rush. "Working with students at my job helps me a lot in class because I can relate to them more," said Walkup.

Like many students in the Span Plan program, both Rudolph and Walkup agree college is not easy.

Rudolph said one thing that is difficult for him is keeping up with the readings in all of his textbooks.

He also said the hardest adjustment for people in his age group is the advancement in computers.

"It seems that everything is done over the Internet. When I went here in the '70s typewriters were as fancy as we got, but now with computers professors expect more professionalism in all my papers," said Rudolph.

Along with the advancement in technology, Walkup believes students are smarter coming out of high school compared to 25 years ago.

"I think high schools do a better job for preparing students for college. They just seem to be more aware of everything," said Walkup.

The Span Plan program fills a void in a lot of people’s lives because people who receive their degree know it will lead to better opportunities, said Hughes.

Walkup is undecided what she wants to do after Purdue but is looking forward to all the possibilities.

Rudolph said that after he obtains his degree in art history he would like to visit Italy and Greece.

He also said he might return to Purdue for more schooling and become a teacher or a museum curator.

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Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

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