North Texas Daily

Javier Navarro / Staff Writer

As a part of Non-Traditional Student Week, Off-Campus Student Services will host activities to recognize the non-traditional students at UNT.

Courtney Newsome, OCSS coordinator, said students who are considered non-traditional include those who are older than the typical college student, veterans and those with their own family.

Newsome also said this week is not only to celebrate, but to promote awareness that there are a significant number of non-traditional students around campus.

“We wanted to have a week where we celebrated [non-traditional students] and the experience they bring to the student population, and just let them know they’re appreciated,” Newsome said.

There are currently about 5,300 students who identify themselves as non-traditional, which is about 15 percent of the UNT student body, Newsome said.

The week will host activities beginning Tuesday with the Snag and Snack at Wooten Hall. A table will be set up and students can grab free snacks and drinks. There will also be a showing of “Monster’s University’’ at the Hill near Apogee Stadium during the week.

Non-traditional student representative and political science senior Ryan Lux said the event was created over four years ago and some of the non-traditional students felt that the regular campus events catered more toward traditional students.

Lux said one reason the events were created was to accommodate those students who weren’t always on campus and to make them feel more included.

“It’s to give them something to be proud of,” Lux said. “They’re not as tied to campus as a lot of the traditional students are.”

Lux is a non-traditional student himself – a veteran with a family.  He has attended the events in the past and said it has had a good reception.

“We enjoy it, we like it. If anything, we like to see more,” Lux said. “It has been perceived well, it’s just a matter of making sure we keep it going.”

Lux also said the events were spread out over the week to accommodate for the schedules of non-traditional students.

Non-traditional students will be able to take part in UNT Family Weekend events, which will take place this weekend, at reduced costs. The events include the UNT football game against Middle Tennessee State University. The first 50 students to sign up can get up to three additional tickets for their families. A form can be found here.