Adults considering college often have more questions than a 3-year-old on a field trip to the zoo. What are credit hours? What's a course packet? What's an adviser do and how do I get one? What if I don't know what I want to study? How do I find the money? Am I smart enough? Will I have the time to study? Will I be the only person over 18 in the class?

For any adults considering returning to college after a long break, or even for the first time, answers to those questions and more will be provided during the Project EMERGE workshop at The Ohio State University at Marion. Project EMERGE will be offered in four sessions on August 24, 26, 30 and September 1. Participants have the option of attending morning sessions each day from 9 a.m. to noon, or evening sessions from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants must attend all four days.

Project EMERGE is offered free of charge. However, participants may choose to receive one hour of academic credit toward a degree from The Ohio State University and will pay regular Ohio State tuition for this option. Special grants are available for the first 10 qualifying adults who enroll in Project EMERGE. Those who successfully complete the course may also be eligible for Ohio State Marion's "Step Up" grants for adult students, which covers the cost of up to five additional credit hours of study at the University.

Dawn Heimlich, an Ohio State Marion academic adviser and Project EMERGE coordinator, said, "the focus of the program is on helping adults make the transition back to being students again - rediscovering academic skills and exploring career options." Project EMERGE workshops will cover topics such as: a review of academic and study skills; the impact of college on family and lifestyle; math and writing refresher courses; a general orientation to college; and the variety of options available for financing a college education.

EMERGE participants will meet other adult students who have successfully made the transition back to school. According to Heimlich, "Having been a returning adult student myself, I understand the fears and anxieties adults experience when they consider returning to school after a long absence. It is critical to expose EMERGE participants to successful role models. This often helps the returning student feel much more at ease with the entire experience.".

In 1986, Heimlich, a working mother of three, made a decision to pursue her lifelong dream of a college degree. Attending Ohio State Marion, she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1990. She is completing her master's degree in Family Relations and Human Development at Ohio State.

Beginning in September, The Alber Enterprise Center of The Ohio State University at Marion is offering two training courses in The 21st Century Supervisor series - "Making Excellence a Habit" and "Advanced Series."

"Making Excellence a Habit" is a 12-week course addressing critical skills needed in the next five years by all managers. Participants will develop critical skills to deal with business realities and complexities, share and learn from others in similar work situations, and discover ways to leverage team performance to create excellent performance actions.

The course will be taught by Michael Borden, Ph. D., and will be offered on the Ohio State Marion Campus, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion, beginning September 9; or at Ohio State's Delaware Center, 4565 Columbus Pike, Delaware, beginning Sept. 14. At both locations, classes will be held in the afternoon. The cost is $600, with discounts offered to multiple participants from the same business.

The "Advanced Series" offers 15 sessions on numerous topics, including the changing role of leadership, coaching for improved performance, dealing with difficult behavior, and the power of positive: motivation and performance. Participants can enroll in the entire series of 15 sessions, or can choose one or more individual sessions. The cost varies depending on the number of sessions in which an individual is enrolled; prices start at $125 per three-hour session.

These sessions also will be taught by Michael Borden and will be offered on the Ohio State Marion Campus, 1465 Mt. Vernon Ave., Marion, beginning September 14; or at the Marysville Public Library, 231 S. Plum St., Marysville, beginning Sept. 23. Each session is three or six hours in duration. Most sessions will be held in the morning.

Both series are supported by the Ohio Industrial Training Program Grant from the Ohio Department of Development.