By Sonia Ortiz
Evening students are constantly missing campus events and helpful resources because they arrive into campus after 6p.m., the non-traditional student union will help overcome those obstacles.
About 51 percent of ELAC students are non-traditional students. Those students may be full time employees that attend to class in the evening or single parents without a reliable schedule due to childcare. Most importantly they are students who pay the same amount of money for an education and demand the same rights and services.
Currently the office hours for student services are Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. But the campus is open for class Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 10p.m. It would be ideal to have the offices open until the last class is over.
ELAC Library hours are Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These hours are ideal if you don’t have to work full time.
Pedro Flores is the president of the Non-Traditional Student Union and founder of the union. The Non-Traditional Student Union is a fairly new club to ELAC, it began in the fall of 2014. The goal of the club is to help students know their way around the campus, use the correct resources and eventually reach their goal and transfer out of ELAC. In order to do so they are tying to work with ELAC and extend the hours of many student services offices and workshops.
Together with the education work source and other clubs the non-traditional student union currently discussing extending Library hours with the school president. They are also trying to get the student services offices to extend their hours and comply with all students and their schedules.
“The disadvantage of being a non-traditional student is not having enough time to receive the correct services. Not because we choose not to but because there is no one there to listen when we are here,” Flores said.
Flores and his club members are willing to take each student that reaches out to them step by step throughout the campus. They can direct each student to the right offices and applications needed.
Judith Gomez the vice president of the club is a walking testimony. Flores met Gomez during her second semesters when she was still unsure if she was taking the correct classes. Gomez was making common mistakes like paying daily for parking due to not being aware of something simple like a parking pass. Flores actually took the time to walk with Gomez and show her around campus and explain the different services in campus.
As soon as a student is given all the right tools and guidance that student can succeed and reach their ELAC goal. The club is ecstatic to help their club members and fellow students to have access and take advantage of all services. The club is a “community” says Flores. It’s also an opportunity to join a club that you can attend when you are an evening student.
If you are a non-traditional student and still need help join the club. They can help you succeed and then you can pay it forward and help someone else succeed with their goals here at ELAC.
Meetings are held Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. in the C2 building room 113. Add them on Facebook: Non-Traditional Student Union ELAC. Also feel free to contact Pedro Flores pfloresjr86@gmail.com.
