Two Colorado State University Offices Undergo Transformation

An office that has served the needs of off-campus students and adult learners at Colorado State University is undergoing a transformation. Effective July 1, the office of Off-Campus Student Services/Resources for Adult Learners will become two separate offices. Off-Campus Student Services is becoming Off-Campus Life, while the office of Resources for Adult Learners will become Adult Learner and Veteran Services.

While the two offices will continue to share space in Room 195 of the Lory Student Center, phone numbers and websites will change. To reach Adult Learner and Veteran Services go to www.adultstudents.colostate.edu or www.veterans.colostate.edu or call (970) 491-3977. The offices of Off-Campus Life can be reached at www.ocl.colostate.edu or (970) 491-2248.

"Since becoming the director in 2000, I have imagined the office someday branching into two entities in order to better serve the various concerns and unique needs of students – whether commuter, adult learner, transfer, off-campus or veteran," said Jeannie Ortega, director of Off-Campus Life. "This change represents reaching a long-term goal I have envisioned, and better yet, allows for new opportunities for growth and support of all students at Colorado State University."

The Off-Campus Life office offers a series of programs and services that support the successful transition to living in the Fort Collins community. From rental listings for houses, apartments, condos or roommates to assistance with neighborhood relations or problem solving, Off-Campus Life provides a wealth of resources for off-campus, commuter and transfer students.

New or improved initiatives for Off-Campus Life include a rideshare carpooling program, remodeled rental housing search system, increased promotion of off-campus recycling initiatives and continued expansion of the  nationally recognized collaborative programming between the City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University.

"I think of the change in our office structure as two butterflies emerging from one cocoon – each has its wings to fly to new heights in the programs and services we provide," said Jan Rastall, new director for Adult Learner and Veteran Services. "Adult learners often feel marginalized on a large, residential campus such as CSU. This new development is a message to adult learners that CSU as a whole, and the Division of Student Affairs, values their presence and continues to explore new initiatives that support their academic success."

Adult Learner and Veteran Services will continue to serve the needs of non-traditional students, plus meet the demands of a growing number of veterans who are making the transition from military life to college life.

The effort was buoyed earlier this year when the Wal-Mart Foundation and the American Council on Education named Colorado State University one of 20 recipients of a Success for Veterans Award – a $100,000 grant that will help CSU expand its veteran services. The grant money will create a mentoring program between incoming veterans and existing students, develop a faculty training program, establish a national veterans student honor society, expand outreach efforts, and develop a more comprehensive student orientation program.

The Office of Adult Learner and Veteran Services offers support as students transition back to campus through peer groups, scholarships and awards, consultations and referrals, and veterans and family-friendly events.

For more information, contact Jeannie Ortega at (970) 491-3533 or Jean.Ortega@colostate.edu or Jan Rastall at (970) 491-0451 or Jan.Rastall@colostate.edu.

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