Student Involvement & Leadership Center unveils plans for Non-Traditional Student Week to celebrate KU students

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Student Involvement & Leadership Center will host a week of events for Non-Traditional Student Week to acknowledge the student population that juggles the competing responsibilities of work, family and life while pursuing their educational goals at KU. In-person and virtual events will take place Nov. 4-14.

Nontraditional Jayhawks are typically considered students who commute 10 or more miles to the Lawrence campus, are a veteran or who are at least three years older than their classmates. SILC expands this definition to include transfer students, online students, student-parents and first-generation students. All students are welcome at events unless noted as invite-only.

“Our nontraditional students are truly valued here at KU,” said Jennifer Sprague, SILC educational program coordinator. “We are so excited for a weeklong celebration of these students.” 

The week’s events:

• Nov. 4: Tabling for Transfer Students on Wescoe Beach, Jayhawk Boulevard, from 9 to 11 a.m. Stop by for some doughnuts and free swag from the SILC office.
• Nov. 5: Student-Parent Grab Bag Pick Up for families enrolled at Hilltop Child Development Center.
• Nov. 6: KU vs. K-State Non-Traditional Student Tailgate on the Baumgartner Terrace at the Kansas Union, game time still TBD. This is a family-friendly event.
• Nov. 8: First Generation Celebration Lunch taking place in the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pizza and other treats will be provided.
• Nov. 9: Online Student Paint-By-Numbers taking place via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is invite-only.
• Nov. 10: Non-Traditional Student Gift Bag Pick Up happening at the SILC Office on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Nov. 11: Military-Affiliated and Non-Traditional Student Breakfast taking place in the Forums at the Burge Union from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. There will be a buffet-style breakfast and resource tables.
• Nov. 12: Non-Traditional Student Coffee Happy Hour happening at the Kansas Union Ascher Plaza from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Pastries and giveaways will be provided.
• Nov. 13: Drive-In movie taking place at the Lied Center of Kansas parking lot. Gates open at 5 p.m. with the movie starting shortly after at 5:30 p.m.
• Nov. 14: 2021 KU Vets’ Day 5K will start in parking lot 94 with the race beginning at 9 a.m. Please arrive early for on-site registration. Pre-registration for this event is encouraged.