Between classes, homework, kids and a job or two, adult college students can be under more pressure than their younger classmates.
Two organizations at East Tennessee State University, Once Again Students in School and Alpha Sigma Lambda, exist to help relieve some of that pressure and reward those who excel – on and off campus.
OASIS members are from both undergraduate and graduate levels and from every walk of life, which provides a “wealth of experience” to draw from, according to Karen Sullivan, assistant director of Adult, Commuter and Transfer Services.
“They bring so much expertise and very little fear,” she said.
Members use knowledge from their professional and personal lives to contribute to OASIS activities.
One member Sullivan mentioned used her experience working with the League of Women Voters to help organize forums during election times.
Another member created a quilt featuring photos of ETSU’s campus to be given away in a fund-raising event.
“This is invaluable,” Sullivan said. “Instead of creating from the ground up, we can tap into these various members with this expertise, and it’s just phenomenal.”
Once a year, an OASIS member is chosen by drawing to win the Incentive Award, a $100 voucher to be used on campus to buy books or supplies the following semester.
The group also sponsors the Above & Beyond Award, a $100 prize given to any student, faculty member or staff member each spring who goes “above and beyond” to help his or her fellow students. Candidates for the award must be nominated by an OASIS member.
A $5 per semester fee and an occasional fund-raiser help pay for both awards.
“I’m really proud of the fact that they make their own money,” Sullivan said.
The funds are also used to pay for social events. A recent trip took OASIS members on a tour of the Carroll Reece Museum, with dinner afterward.
Family movie night is another function conducted by OASIS, in conjunction with University Productions. Members can bring their children, other relatives or friends, and door prizes are given away.
“It helps family members feel a part of the university community,” Sullivan said.
Members also help freshmen and new students during orientation events.
“They are really good at taking people in-hand who are terrified, and by their presence, showing that not only can you come back to school, but you can come back and do it well,” Sullivan said.
Currently, there are 15 to 18 OASIS members, ranging in age from the late 20s on up. New members can join at anytime.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month during the fall and spring semesters at 7 a.m. in the lobby of Adult, Commuter and Transfer Services. Breakfast is always served.
Alpha Sigma Lambda is an honor society for adult students. Letters of invitation are sent out every spring semester.
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher to join ETSU’s Zeta Tau chapter, and they must have completed at least 30 credit hours at ETSU (15 from the general education core, plus 15 from their major). They also must be undergraduates and at least 23 years old.
In addition to the membership requirements, a $50 fee is paid to help defray the costs of events throughout the semester, as well as an initiation dinner and cords for members to wear at their graduation ceremony.
In order to remain a member in good standing, there are meeting requirements and volunteer requirements, Sullivan said.
Members must attend one general membership meeting per semester and participate in at least two service projects per semester.
“We just depend on them (ASL members),” Sullivan said.
Members volunteer to help with orientations, homecoming events, honors convocations and more. They also can participate in an e-mail mentoring program.
“We have honor students who are upperclassmen keeping in e-mail contact with new students who have just started this fall semester,” Sullivan said. “It’s working out really well.”
ASL members also vote on an organization to donate funds to each year.
Past recipients of ASL donations include the Interfaith Hospitality Network, the Red Cross, the Ronald McDonald House and the Children’s Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center.
“I like the fact that both our groups are always working for people other than just themselves,” Sullivan said. “I think they are a part of the solution.”
For more information on OASIS or ASL, call the Adult, Commuter and Transfer Services office at 439-5641.

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