All students attending Weber State University deserve the academic, financial, advising, and social support services needed to achieve their educational goals. Nontraditional Student Programs and Services provides programs and services and refers to additional services that will increase a student's chances to succeed at the University.

The mission of Nontraditional Student Programs and Services is to provide educational and social programs and resources and referral services to help students balance college, work and family. The goal is to enrich nontraditional students' educational experience by connecting students to academic and student services and providing a common place for students to meet and build support networks.

1. Provide services and opportunities for students with families to be supported and to participate in fami1y-friendly campus activities.

Nontraditional Student Programs and Services include a Drop-in Child Care for students' children.
Family-friendly programming is offered at little or no cost.
Family-focused support is available, such as parenting workshops and couples counseling.

2. Assist nontraditional students in competently using campus resources to meet their personal, academic, and career goals.

Brochures and handbooks outlining campus services are provided.
Information from campus and off-campus programs are available to students.
Knowledgeable student employees, who are trained to provide accurate information and referrals, work in the area.
Peer mentors who are trained in the art of advising are matched with students to assist them in the operational issues of managing a college education.

3. Provide opportunity for nontraditional students to connect to the wider University community through involvement in the nontraditional student area council, nontraditional student programming activities and joined faculty/student programs.

Nontraditional Student Programs and Services houses the Senator who represents the Nontraditional Student constituency.
Nontraditional Student Programs and Services is a focal point for the Nontraditional Student Area Council.
Support is available from student affairs professionals and faculty who spend time in the facility to connect with students.

4. Build a support network for nontraditional students through peer mentors, learning communities and workshops.

Peer mentors contact students at regular intervals to guide them through a semester by providing support and referral services.
Students have the opportunity to build learning communities by attending study groups and workshops. (For example, time and stress management and effective study skills)

5. Acknowledge nontraditional students' need for community by providing a common space for studying, relaxing, eating and socializing.

Nontraditional Student Programs and Services is designed to invite students to gather, communicate and eat a meal or snack.
The program is designed so students can study, use computers or meet with study groups.
The program is designed so student parents are adjacent to their children in the Drop-in Child Care facility.

Nontraditional Student Programs and Services' outcomes assessment plan follows the model presented in the NASPA book, Student Learning as Student Affairs Work: Responding to Our Imperative. The assessment plan is base on Alexander Astin's Input, Environment, Outcome (IOE) model (1991, p.68), with an additional Measurement component introduced in the book. Outcomes may not link to all competencies; however, those competencies that most nearly correspond to the identified outcome will be linked. See Table1.

Table 1: Outcomes Assessment Model

Input	Environment	Outcome	Measurement
The student at Weber State University.	The programs and services offered by the department.	The student with the results of the impact of the department's services.	One or more means of measuring the outcomes.
Outcomes are linked to competencies in the Student Learning Initiative.
1. Cognitive - encompasses critical thinking; complex meaning-making; intellectual flexibility; reflective judgment and the ability to apply knowledge.
2. Intrapersonal - includes a coherent sense of identity; a self-authored belief system to organize one's values; ethics; spiritual and moral development; a capacity for self-awareness and reflection; and integrity.
3. Interpersonal - involves the capacity for interdependence and collaboration; appreciation of diversity; communication, problem-solving and conflict management skills; humanitarianism skills and concern for community.
4. Practical - includes managing one's daily life and tasks and career and personal decision making.

Table 2: Nontraditional Student Programs and Services Assessment Outcomes

Assessment Outcome #1
Input	Environment	Outcome	Assessment
Nontraditional Student: 25 years or older, married and/or with children. may have child care needs. May feel anxious about "fitting in" in a college environment with traditional aged students. May lack confidence in his or her ability to succeed academically after years of being out of school. May desire a community of peers of similar age, with similar concerns, needs, etc. May have a desire to get involved in campus life in activities/programs which are designed for nontraditional students.	Assist nontraditional students to competently use campus resources to meet their personal, academic and career goals.	Students who use the services and participate in programs will demonstrate a knowledge and use of campus resources. (Practical Competence: managing one's life and tasks and career and personal decision making.)	Program assessment completed by the student. Self-assessment completed by the student.
Assessment Outcome #2
Input	Environment	Outcome	Assessment
Nontraditional student; defined above	Assist students to develop a sense of belonging to the WSU community through connections with other students and Student Affairs professionals.	Students who use services and participate in programs will develop a sense of belonging to the WSU community through connections with other students and Student Affairs professionals. (Interpersonal Competence: collaboration, appreciation of diversity, communication, problem-solving and concern for the community.)	Program assessment completed by the student. Self-assessment completed by the student.

Assessments will be administered at specific events: activities, workshops, etc. In addition, those students who have enrolled to use the Nontraditional Programs and Services will be given an assessment of the overall program each semester. The Nontraditional Student Advisory Board will begin review of the assessment results at the end of the 2000/2001 academic year.