The number of students older than 25 at NIU lags behind the national percentage of non-typical students returning to campuses across the country.

In a Jan. 29 speech at NIU, George Keller, an education writer from the University of Pennsylvania, said more than 44 percent of the nation’s college student population is older than 25 years old and has special needs other than those of a typical college-age student.

oughly 28 percent of NIU’s approximate 24,300 enrollment is older than 25, according to 1989 statistics provided by NIU’s Office of Institutional Research.

Ten percent of NIU’s 18,029 fall 1989 undergraduate enrollment is older than 25, while 80 percent of NIU’s 6,400 graduate students are older than 25, according to office statistics.

John Felver, assistant director of student housing who oversees the special interest floors, said the over-21 floors are composed of “a more mature group of students.”

The students on these floors spend more time in the library and studying, Felver said. Many are graduate students and work as teaching assistants, he said.

Michelle DeJean, 31, a freshman with an undecided major, said she works full-time as a secretary for NIU. She said most general education classes are held during the day, which makes it hard for working students to get all their credits.

Tom Goetz, 27, a senior majoring in Anthropology, said he spent six years in the U.S. Army right after high school. He said he decided to leave the service to pursue a degree.

Larry Apperson, dean of student services at Kishwaukee Community College, said the average age of students at his school is 28 but the state average for community college students is 30.

Apperson said his school accomodates older students by offering as many classes at night as they offer in the morning.

He also said afternoon classes beginning at 3 p.m. and evening classes beginning at 6:30 p.m. have the adult market in mind. Schedule accomodations have been made to allow working students to take more than one afternoon or evening class each semester.

Satellite facilities such as firehouses, middle schools, grammar schools and other available buildings are being used by Kishwaukee to offer classes for working students who don’t have access to classes, Apperson said.