WORK DURING THE DAY,
CLASSES ON WEEKENDS:
BALANCING LIFE AND LEARNING

At 4 p.m. on Fridays, class activities wind down on most campuses. But at Augsburg, a shift occurs, as parking lots start filling with Weekend College students coming for their 6 p.m. classes.

Students choose to spend every other weekend on campus for various reasons—completion of a degree or teaching licensure, job promotion, or personal interest. Most have full-time jobs and families, so the commitment is strong and the motivation to succeed is high.

Faculty choose to teach in Weekend College also for different reasons, among them the joy of teaching students who bring years of life experience to class discussion.

Click on the links below to read addition personal reflections about the Weekend College experience by English professor Joan Thompson and Augsburg-Rochester student Deanna Constans:

"Bringing their experience to class"
by Prof. Joan Thomspon

"Sign language interpreter makes the grade"
by Deanna Constans

For more information about the Weekend College program,
call 612-330-1101,
e-mail wecinfo@augsburg.edu,
or visit www.augsburg.edu/wec.

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I REMEMBER my first night of class four years ago as if it were just yesterday. Professor Kathy Swanson asked each student to introduce him/herself and to share a little something. At first chance I said eagerly, "My name is Sue Kneen. I have four daughters, and I'm so happy to be here, I could just cry." The guy from the day program sitting directly in front of me whipped his head around and looked at me in utter disgust as his face implied, "Are you for real?"

Initially, Augsburg was attractive to me because I learned that WEC offers the same degree as the traditional program; the same material is covered, the same work is expected of us, and we have the same professors—the only difference is our schedules. With the commitment WEC requires of a non-traditional student, I wouldn't waste my time on anything less.

As I proceeded further into the program, however, what became equally attractive to me was the quality of professors at Augsburg. Many conversations with my WEC colleagues seemed to end with the same conclusion: the professors are great at what they do—teach. Difficult material is brought down to an undergraduate level and presented in a manner that makes it both interesting and exciting to learn. It is quite something how consistently this seems to happen from class to class, and I am surprised at the lengths most professors will go to help us succeed.

I have been challenged in many ways at Augsburg. Let me share with you just two: I have learned through my religion classes an unbiased understanding of other religions. The Hindu and Buddhist faiths, for example, have been intriguing to me, but I had never quite received an unbiased view previously; I had no idea of the depth and beauty of these faiths. I look forward to learning more about the Buddhist's message of peace.

It is also okay to be a Christian at Augsburg. Funny as that may sound, considering that our mission statement reads, " ... shaped by the faith and values of the Christian church ...," it seems it is not politically correct in many circles today to admit one is a Christian. I find the climate at Augsburg to be tolerant and respectful, where faith and ideas are expressed and shared openly.

Secondly, my Augsburg education has shattered the stereotype I had of inner-city life from my growing up in a little, Caucasian, southern Wisconsin hometown of 3,500. I didn't know about the large class of people termed the "working poor"—urban dwellers whose hard work for minimum pay only ekes out a meager existence. Life is tough and utter poverty is usually one paycheck away for more people than I had realized. I am proud that Augsburg is committed to these urban issues, both via dialogue in classroom settings and through active commitment to the community surrounding Augsburg. Dean Chris Kimball says it well in one of his letters to students: "I hope your achievements will encourage you to be of service to others."

Attending WEC has been one of the best decisions in my life. Previously, I had not thought of myself as college material, so success at Augsburg brings with it more and more confidence. I will be the first in my family of origin to graduate from college, and I know this is the beginning of many good things. And it seems most WEC students have their own stories. Some are here for job advancement or a pay increase, and that's fine; but for many of us, it's much more. As one colleague whispered to me in class, "I come to class feeling like the most grateful student."

A thrilling benefit of attending Augsburg is the example my college experience gives to my daughters. Discussion about college abounds in our home; we are all in this together. Every other weekend, their smiling little moon faces peer through the front door and wave me off to school; and my six-year-old asks me after each class, "Mom, did you get an A today?" It is true, as one professor told me, that one needs a very supportive family.

So, although I have now learned to no longer wear my mom's heart on my sleeve amidst academia, I still very much feel just like I did that first night of class four years ago.

Sue Kneen is a Weekend College student majoring in English.