ETSU recognized for serving adult students

East Tennessee State University has won three categories of the 2024 Abound College Awards.

Abound is a college guidance system for degree-seeking adults, and helps students age 24 and up find the best place to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree.

In the Finish College Awards, ETSU won in the categories Best Colleges for Adults, Best Online Colleges and Best Colleges for Military and Veterans.

The needs of adult students, which often differ from those of traditional students, have long been recognized at ETSU.

“As an institution that puts people first, ETSU provides adult students with the flexibility they need to earn their degree,” said Timothy Lewis, director of New Student and Family Programs at ETSU. “Not only do we provide special services to our adult students, our faculty and staff work to get to know each student as an individual: helping each student succeed and reach their specific goals.”

The New Student and Family Programs office works to meet adult students’ needs in a variety of ways through Transfer and Adult Services . Adult students have the option of a one-day Preview orientation at the beginning of the first year in addition to the three-day option for all new first-time students. During New Student Orientation, adult students have the flexibility to do a specialized online orientation or come in person, where they will have specific programming that allows them to get to know other adult students.

ETSU Online offers numerous 100% online majors and minors and two mostly online programs, which make it easier for working adults and adults with children to attend school and earn their degrees. A wide variety of subjects are available at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as graduate certificates and one undergraduate certificate. Also, students enrolled in online courses learn from the same curriculum and from the same instructors as traditional on-ground students.

“Being out of the classroom for over 25 years, I was a little scared to go back to school as a full-time student,” said Angelica Ares, who earned her M.S. in digital marketing through ETSU. “ETSU’s online program helped with the intimidation factor.”

“As a husband, father to four teenagers and full-time employee, I knew there would be a delicate dance between school, work and family,” said Dr. J.D. Faulconer, who earned his Ed.D. online at ETSU. “The online program helped prove that I could juggle all three and still be successful.”

ETSU is widely recognized for its services for veterans and military-affiliated students. The university’s Office of Military and Veteran Services provides consistent, personalized support for students who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Priority registration for classes, exclusive access to social and study space at the Military-Affiliated Student Resource Center and membership in the ETSU chapter of the Student Veterans of America are available, as are out-of-state tuition waivers, scholarships and work-study positions for those using GI Bill® benefits. ETSU has earned the prestigious Military Friendly® School designation for 14 consecutive years.

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