YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Non-traditional students are the new normal! According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 74% of students enrolled in higher education fit into the broader definition of non-traditional student and this percentage continues to grow! On average 80% of non-traditional students are enrolled part-time, 43% have children or dependents, 28% are single parents, and 41% work full-time. While some characteristics of the evolving and multifaceted student group continue to develop, they share distinct, individual, and pressing needs to overcome the additional challenges they may face while completing a degree. UNT has over 4,000 faculty and staff members, hundreds of departments, special facilities, services, and events for you. In addition to getting to know your campus, professors, and academic advisors, we encourage you to visit OCSS to learn about all the services and programs we sponsor to help meet your unique needs.

Eagle Student Services Center: Open Monday-Friday from 6:45 am to 10:00 pm and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at 1147 Union Circle. In the Eagle Student Services Center, you can find the Registrar's Office, Financial Aid and Scholarships, have your student ID made, make payments to your student account, and more!

University Union: Open Monday through Saturday from 7:00 am to 12:00 am and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am located at 155 Union Circle. The Union is the main hub for students on campus. The Union houses several important departments such as the Off-Campus Student Services, Dean of Students, Center for Leadership and Service, Pride Alliance, Multicultural Center, Student Activities, and so many more! Inside the Union is where you can find the UNT Barnes & Noble Bookstore and several dining options including Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Burger King, Jamba Juice, and Avesta among others. The Chat is also located on the second floor and has several dining options as well. You can also check out a student locker in the Union! Be sure to check the University Union website and follow them on social media for updates including changes for hours of operation.

Computer Labs: A comprehensive list of all the computer lab locations and hours of operation on the Denton campus, Frisco campus, and Discovery Park can be found under Services at academictechnologies.unt.edu.

University Libraries: Willis Library, on the Denton campus, is open 24 hours a day. All information about the Willis Library can be found at library.unt.edu/willis including a floor directory and the specific services they offer. Willis offers study spaces, computers, printing, tutoring, the InterLibrary Loan Service, and more. You can also check out a laptop and find scholarly or research help. But Willis is not the only library at UNT! You can also visit the Sycamore Library, the Media Library, the Library at Discovery Park, and the Frisco Landing Library. If you are a 100% online student or graduate student and interested in learning more about the Interlibrary Loan Service, please visit the University Libraries website or watch the How-To Video on YouTube @UNTOCSS.

Navigate: Navigate is an online scheduling system. It can be accessed on your desktop or by downloading the app. You can use this service to schedule appointments with your advisor or other university services, organize your personal to-do list, access your class schedule, receive reminders about campus events, and more. Visit navigate.unt.edu for more info.

Off-Campus Meal Plans: While a meal plan is not required to enjoy any of the dining halls or retail restaurants, it is possible to save some money by enrolling in the Off-Campus Meal Plan. There are several off-campus meal plan options so you can choose the plan that best fits your needs. This is a great option, especially if you spend most of your day on campus and don't want to carry your lunchbox around with you or if you would like to be able to choose some healthy options and skip meal prepping!

University Endorsed Health Insurance: The student health insurance plan is administered through United Healthcare Student Resources. It covers most eligible services provided at the Health and Wellness Center 100% after copay. Information regarding this health plan can be found at unt.myahpcare.com/benefits.

UNT Passport Office: Passport Services is located in Marquis Hall Room 102 at 1511 W. Mulberry St. Here you can submit a passport application for new and minor passports as well as immigration, passport, and visa photos. Drop-in hours are available at certain times during the workweek or you can make an appointment in advance at studyabroad.unt.edu/passport-office.

Day Use Lockers: The University Union has several day-use lockers that students can use while on campus. The lockers are located on the second, third, and fourth floors of the Union and are first-come, first-served.

Food Pantry: Located in the back of Crumley Hall, the UNT Food Pantry presented by Kroger is a great resource for students experiencing food insecurity. Hours may vary by semester so visit studentaffairs.unt.edu/food-pantry/hours to check when it will be open. There are also resources listed on their website in case you need information on other food resources. There is also a Food Pantry at UNT Frisco which you can access by talking to the front desk.

Student Legal Services: Located in Chestnut Hall, Suite 115, Student Legal Services provides free legal consultations and services to UNT students. Some of the services include landlord/tenant issues, divorce, wrongful termination, evictions, debt collection, and more! For a full list of services visit studentaffairs.unt.edu/student-legal-services.

Student Veteran Services: Student Veteran Services is located on the second floor of Sage Hall and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for in-person assistance. You can also receive assistance over the phone or virtually. The Student Veteran Services provides services such as psychological services, an honor society, GreenZone training, and events for Veteran's Day. The Veteran's Center also houses the Student Veteran Lounge if you need somewhere quiet to study.

myUNT: After receiving your EUID, you can log in to your myUNT account. On your student homepage, you can access your enrollment information, register for classes, see your academic record, see your financial aid and scholarship information, set your mailing preferences, pay your student account, and be alerted to any tasks assigned to your to-do list by the UNT system. Under the resources button, you can find information about things like access to Canvas, your UNT Email, the CARE team, and the UNT Helpdesk, among others.

Outlook: Even if you are set up with your personal email, you will be required to use your student email which will accessed through Outlook. Outlook is part of the Microsoft family and comes with additional apps that can be helpful to you. Please know that most, if not all, official university correspondence will default to your student email, so it is your responsibility to check and maintain your email. You can sync your Outlook with other personal accounts if you choose, or it may be easier to keep your student email separate. You can also sync your Canvas calendar and personal calendars to your Outlook calendar to have everything in one place. Some of the apps in your Outlook account include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and more.

Canvas: Canvas is your course management system. Even if your class meets in person, you are most likely to have a Canvas course that coincides with that course. On Canvas you can turn in assignments, take quizzes, participate in discussion posts, contact your professor or classmates, and more. Canvas will also provide you with tools to help you be successful and stay on top of your assignments by posting reminders of assignments or due dates that are approaching. If your professor posts assignment due dates on Canvas, they will also automatically be put into your Canvas calendar so you can have all your class assignments in one place. Please make sure to check with your professor for each class to understand their Canvas preferences. For example, some professors may want to communicate exclusively through Canvas while others may prefer email. Another great feature of Canvas is professors can comment on your work while grading so you can receive feedback more quickly. Canvas will also track your grades for you so you know where you stand in each class.

Parking: The challenge of parking can be eased with a few tips. First, if you live within walking distance of campus or within walking distance of a UNT bus stop, these methods of commuting are highly recommended. Don't forget that bus rides are FREE and walking, biking, skateboarding, and more are great stress management techniques! If your commute is longer and requires purchasing a parking permit, make sure you are reading through the different types of parking permits offered at transportation.unt.edu/parking-permits. When planning your class schedule, try to register for early mornings or evening classes as parking is usually easier at the start and end of the business day. If you have an Eagle commuter parking permit, you can park anywhere on campus after 5:30 except for handicap spots unless you have a handicap placard. The Eagle commuter parking permit also works for Discovery Park and Frisco commuter parking lots.

Install Microsoft Office365 for Free: As an enrolled UNT student, you are eligible to download a free version of Office365. This differs from the apps included in Outlook as you would not need to be connected to the internet for use. To download for free visit aits.unt.edu/support/office365apps.

Professor's Office Hours: Your professor will post their office hours on the syllabus for their class. Visiting your professor in their office is a fantastic and underutilized resource for students. When you visit during office hours, you can get clarification on your notes from class, ask questions about upcoming assignments, ask for tips for studying for exams, and so much more. It is also a fantastic opportunity for you to gain some mentorship or advice in the field in which you are studying. Your professor may have knowledge about scholarships, internship opportunities, career networking, or more. If you don't know where to start or are nervous about visiting your professor during office hours, we recommend looking into our Coffee & Convos program found under OCSS's Programs tab.

Weather: No matter what your commute to campus may be, you will almost certainly have to walk various distances across campus. It is important to be prepared for the walk. Wear comfortable shoes, have a water bottle, and stash an umbrella in your backpack. Also, don't forget your sunscreen! UNT sends out Weather alerts when inclement weather is approaching or when cancellations can be expected. To make sure you are receiving these alerts, log in to your myUNT account, click the profile tile, and update your contact information under Contact Detail and Eagle Alert.

Traffic: If you are commuting to campus by driving, you will want to make sure you have downloaded some reliable traffic apps on your phone and check them often. It may also be helpful to plan to arrive on campus about 30 minutes prior to your class start time in case of traffic or difficulty finding a parking spot. Additionally, we suggest following UNT Emergency Management on social media or downloading the Mean Green Ready App to stay up to date on weather forecasts, traffic on or near campus, UNT emergency guidelines, important emergency contacts, and more!

Work Ahead: Not all professors will allow you to turn in assignments ahead of time but that doesn't mean you can't still complete them ahead of time. Anyone in college will tell you that the further into a semester you are, the busier you are. Especially when it gets close to finals week, it will seem like everything is due all at once. Study your syllabus and if there are assignments you can complete earlier in the semester, complete them! Also ask your professor if can turn assignments in early, or if you are in an online class, if they will open the modules so you can work at your own pace. They may so no, but it's worth asking especially if it can ease the academic load at the end of the semester.

Establish a Routine: Non-traditional students have more to juggle than school and you need to maintain a healthy balance so you don't become burned out. Good time management for your personal, home, career, and academic needs can be accomplished more easily by establishing a routine. This goes for 100% online students as well. Plan out your day with all the facets of your life in consideration. Prioritize your school work, but also make time for your family, career, and most importantly, your mental health. UNT offers free counseling at the Counseling and Testing Center in Chestnut Hall. If you need tips on formatting a routine, setting a schedule, or tricks for more efficient studying so you can do more in less time, visit The Learning Center in Sage Hall and schedule an appointment with an academic coach.

There are many grants and scholarships specifically for non-traditional students. While the scholarships listed here are solely for non-traditional students, most scholarships are not restricted because of age, marital status, family situation or prior education. Non-traditional students are fully eligible for Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, and any other federal and state financial aid program. These grants are accessed by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. For more information about scholarships and financial aid, and for a full list of scholarships available, visit financialaid.unt.edu/scholarships.

Tip: In addition to filling out the General Scholarship Form, make sure you are checking with your department and college about additional scholarship opportunities. Most of the time, individual departments, colleges, and concentrations will have in-house scholarships that require a separate application process. Reach out to your department, ask your professors, and visit the department websites to see what financial aid opportunities they may provide.

Off-Campus Student Services Textbook Award: OCSS awards a textbook stipend to students up to $300 each semester, including the summer semester. Non-traditional students and graduate students are invited to apply. Follow us on social media or visit our Book Stipend page under Programs.

There are also several opportunities for funding for non-traditional students outside of UNT or the federal loan and grants systems. Sometimes they can be a simple Google search away or you can visit the Association for Nontraditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE) at myantshe.org/online-resources to see a list of available scholarships to non-traditional students.