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Started college but never quite finished?

Eastern Kentucky University wants you back, and is ready to make your return as convenient as possible.

If you left EKU – or any qualifying institution – with at least 80 credit hours and have not earned a degree, you qualify for Project Graduate, a statewide program that makes it easier for adults to complete their studies.

Project Graduate students qualify for:

·         free admissions application

·         streamlined records reactivation

·         course transfer assistance

·         personal degree audit summary

·         one-stop individualized consulting services

·         flexible degree completion options, several designed with the adult learner in mind. Classes can be taken day or evening as well as online.

For all those interested in learning more, a Project Graduate Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of EKU’s Whitlock Building.

“It is going to be a relaxed setting where interested students can talk about options for returning to complete their degrees,” said Lisa Cox, director of EKU’s Student Outreach and Transition Office. “We will have staff on hand who can review their previous coursework and give them an idea of how far they are from a degree.”

As of Spring 2015, 254 students have returned to EKU and earned degrees through Project Graduate since its launch in 2008. Eighty students are participating in the program this fall.

“My favorite aspect of Project Graduate is getting to see the smiles on the faces of the individuals I help,” Cox said. “Some people are very anxious when they first inquire about completing a degree, and some think that it is out of reach for them. It is so rewarding to help someone develop a plan and see it through.

“Taking those first steps toward finishing your education can be scary,” Cox continued. “But you can’t let that stop you. With Project Graduate you are not alone. We have friendly, knowledgeable staff who can walk you through the steps and help you navigate obstacles. Many people are surprised just how quickly they can finish. You won’t know until you take that first step.”

For more information, students can also visit soto.eku.edu/projectgrad or contact Cox at lisa.cox@eku.edu or 859-622-7686.

“If they previously attended EKU, then I can access their records,” Cox said. “If they have attended other schools, we just need unofficial copies of their transcripts to start the conversation.”

The Sept. 29 open house at EKU coincides with a statewide Project Graduate Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 2, sponsored by Kentucky’s public colleges and universities, in conjunction with the Council on Postsecondary Education.

Statewide, more than 1,850 former students have earned degrees through Project Graduate and another 1,000 are in the pipeline. The recipient of the 2012 Noel-Levitz Retention Award for Excellence, Project Graduate is a key strategy in the Commonwealth’s college completion agenda.