Tuesday, October 23, 2001

Breaking Tradition
Single mother starts organization for nontraditional students
By Jill Sutton
Staff Reporter

Mary Cunningham, a 31-year-old single mother with a 5-year-old daughter, said she has been looking for an organization at TCU that fits her needs as both a student and a parent.

After posting a message on TCU Announce last week, Cunningham has found at least 18 other nontraditional students who desire the same kinship.

“Most of them said the same thing, ‘I’m glad I’m not the only one,’” Cunningham said.She said she plans to have the first meeting of the nontraditional student organization in November.

Institutional Research defines nontraditional undergraduates as students over the age of 25. There were 469 nontraditional undergraduates at TCU in 2000. The 2001 numbers of nontraditional students are not yet final.

Cunningham said she considers nontraditional students also to be those who are married or have chilren.

Hope Antrim, a TCU student, wife and mother of a 4-year-old daughter, said she has a difficult time finding people on campus she can relate to. Although she has not yet responded to Cunningham’s announcement, she said she would love to participate in the group.

“There are times I feel alienated from the younger students on campus,” Antrim said. “I am taking 18 hours this semester and I think some type of support system would be great.”

Cunningham said the main purpose of the organization is to form friendships, but the group will also participate in a community service activity each semester. She said most of the group’s communication will take place through an online discussion board with at least one formal meeting a semester.

“Leadership duties will be spread out among several roles so there will be many opportunities for leaders who won’t be overwhelmed with obligations,” she said.

Cunningham asked Kay Higgins, director of new student programs, to be a faculty sponsor for the group.

Higgins said a faculty sponsor was necessary in order for the group to be recognized as a formal student organization.

“As of right now, we are trying to provide a way for this organization to be able to receive some minimal funding without having to go to the House (of Student Representatives) meetings and appeal for funding,” said Higgins.

Interested students can contact Cunningham by e-mail at (m.l.cunningham@student.tcu.edu).

Jill Sutton
j.m.sutton@student.tcu.edu