Non-traditional Students Week is taking place at Oswego State from Monday to Friday and is a way to learn more about some of the students on the campus.

Different events will be held throughout the week such as the opening of a new lounge for all non-traditional students.

A non-traditional student is defined as a student who is 24 years or older, has had a gap in their college experience, has military experience, has children or work full time.

The week will start off with posters featuring different non-traditional students across campus.

On Tuesday there will be a reveal of the lounge in Hewitt Union in Room 213B, where students will be able to stop by and grab a bite to eat while checking out the new area.

The lounge will be “a space for studying or socializing between classes, where adult students can be among other students with similar experiences,” said Sarah Wehrle, the coordinator.

“Cranking out that 10-page report at home with a family and house to take care of can get scary,” non-traditional student Zachary Melite said.

The lounge “makes finding an acceptable place on campus to grind out some work, much, much less daunting,” Melite said.

Another event that took place on Wednesday was an alumni connection lunch held at room 114 Marano Campus Center from noon to 2 p.m.

A bonfire with s’mores was held at Mary Walker Health Center parking lot from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

On Friday there will be a sugar rush where students can get treats and coffee in Marano Campus Center Room 151 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

All of these events are to give non-traditional students a chance to connect but also to help spread awareness of Oswego State’s non-traditional student population, Wehrle said.

Oswego State “started recognizing the week last year, so this is our second year of holding a week of events,” Wehrle said. “It is a national week of recognition and many institutions host various events for their non-traditional student population.”

This week can help to “reduce perhaps some of the stigma that may be associated with being of a non-traditional age and to make the traditional student more aware of how non-trads can be a great addition to a class because of their life experiences,” Wehrle said.

“Many of my peers were surprised to find out that I was considered a non-trad, and it has sparked some conversations that led me to happily giving life advice,” Melite said.