College Seniors

Older adults take to the campus

By Joe Earle

Peter Kruszka wanted to earn a college degree when he was younger, but, well, sometimes plans change.

After graduating from high school in New York back in the 1960s, Kruszka went straight to work. He later joined the Navy, got married, raised a family and had a career working with computers. Along the way, he picked up college courses at a half dozen different schools, but never had the time to collect enough credits to earn a diploma.

“I’ve been trying to finish this undergraduate degree for 40 years…,” the 67-year-old said. “Life keeps getting in the way.”

No more. This fall, Kruszka is back in class at Kennesaw State University to wrap up the final college credits he needs to earn his bachelor’s degree.

“It was a lifelong objective I never realized, and now, it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something,” he said. “I’ll have a bachelor’s degree. … and I’ve been trying to accomplish this for 40 years. It’s like, ‘Yes! I finally did it.’”

He’s not the only one. As college campuses across Georgia spring back to life this fall with the start of a new school year, students in their 60s, 70s and older can be expected to show up in class. They’re giving a new meaning to the term “college seniors.”

Many will attend tuition free. The state of Georgia waives the cost of tuition (but not the cost of books or fees) for Georgia residents aged 62 and older who take classes at state colleges and universities (not, however, in dental, medical, veterinary or law schools). The university system says more than 1,100 people used the waivers during the 2018 spring semester.

It’s something I wanted to achieve all these years. It’s something my parents wanted.

“An older person who does not take advantage of that, you’re leaving money on the table,” said Roger DePuy, who’s 77 and who graduated from Kennesaw State in 2016 with a long-sought-after bachelor’s degree. That degree was in integrated studies. Now he’s heading back for a second bachelor’s degree, this time in political science.

DePuy said he had started his studies in 1958 at a community college, but never completed a four-year degree. “Life happens,” he said. “I had to drop out of school, had to get a job and support a family.”

After a career with IBM and other companies, he retired in 2012. “I didn’t need a degree, but there was always something hanging out there,” he said. “[After retirement] my wife said, ‘You ought to be doing something.’ Then I found out I could go to school for nothing. I just had to pay for books.”

He tried a few courses to see whether he liked it. He did. And when he took a course taught by former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, he was hooked.

She’d attended business school when she was younger and had worked since the 1980s as a legal secretary. But, she said, she wanted to do more with people. This fall, she said, she plans to study for a graduate degree at Interdenominational to secretarial school. “I came from a large family,” the 65-yearold said. “There was no money [for college]. I went right to work as a secretary. I got married, had children.”

She encouraged her children to attend college, she said, but, “as far as my personal achievement, it was something I wanted years ago, but I didn’t do, because of life happening.” But, she said, “it’s never too late.”

She graduated from Oglethorpe in May with a degree in communications. “I’m very happy about it,” she said. “It’s something I wanted to achieve all these years. It’s something my parents wanted.”

Being the older student in class didn’t bother her, although she there were times she had to ask her younger classmates to explain current pop culture references that turned up in a lesson. “It helped me stay on my toes,” she said.

Theological Center in Atlanta. Eventually, she hopes to find work as a counselor.

“Sometimes you don’t know what your true passion is,” she said. “I found out my passion is helping people. My desire is to help people live a better life.”

Lois McCoy started classes at Oglethorpe University in 2015 “just for my personal advancement.” She’d completed high school in Detroit and went

Many college professors like having older students in their classes because they bring a sense of seriousness to their studies and improve decorum in the classroom, said Kokila Ravi, director of online learning and specialized programs at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. “Their just being there makes a difference,” she said.

Older students often appreciate the value of an education more than their younger classmates, she said. “Older students, because they’ve been through life, they can tell students how relevant this is going to be,” Ravi said. “We believe their just being there

I think our presence is a true enhancement of the learning environment. The kids are great, but I think we add a little spice.