Access U: Nontraditional Paths is sharing stories and creating conversations about the experiences of nontraditional students at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. We define a nontraditional student as someone who delayed enrollment, enrolled part-time (over more than one semester), works full-time while enrolled, is a student parent or a single parent, or does not have a high school diploma. Midway through the semester, we had to continue our reporting online. The instructor of the class is Gayle (G.G.) Golden.
Letter from the Instructor
Covering a hidden campus community – the mission of this journalism class – isn’t easy under normal circumstances. When everyone on campus disappears because of a pandemic, the task becomes a true test of creativity, endurance and, of course, technology. AccessU: Nontraditional Paths carried on through the Spring 2020 campus shutdown, despite students being shuttered in their apartments or sent home to nearby states halfway through the semester. As journalists, students persevered. Right away, COVID-19 made its presence known: Brovald-Sim funds from the class sent two of the class’ students to a national reporting conference in New Orleans during spring break, where an outbreak of the virus sent them into quarantine when they returned. Our survey of nontraditional students was modified to include questions about the campus shutdown. Reporting practices were changed to keep all safe. Everyone showed up for twice weekly class meetings via Zoom. Communications continued via Slack, Canvas and Google Drive. In the end, students built a community news site that gives voice to undergraduate students who come to the Twin Cities campus in nontraditional ways – those who delay entrance, who attend part time, who work full time, who are parents. In doing so, the class has created a window into the perspectives of a diverse and hidden community of students who told us they sometimes feel they don’t fit with the larger narrative of University life. We listened through the social distance. As with all community coverage, listening is the first step to understanding.
Gayle (G.G.) Golden
Share Your Stories
If you have a story or experience that you’d like to share with us, email us at communityjour@umn.edu. Additionally, check out our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated and hear the stories of fellow students.
Meet the Team
Riham Feshir is the course’s adjunct fellow. Riham was one of the recipients of 2019 Above the Fold Award winners, where the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication honor alumni under the age of 40 who have made exceptional contributions to their field. Riham is a reporter at MPR News, where she covers race and immigration. She was the co-creator (along with fellow Hubbard School of Journalism alum, Jon Collins) of 74 Seconds, an innovative podcast that covered the first-ever trial of a Minnesota police officer charged in an on-duty death. Riham’s work on the podcast won national awards, including a Peabody, Livingston and Third Coast Best Documentary.
Caitlin Anderson is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. She is one of the story editors for this class, with experience at the Minnesota Daily and as an intern at both the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minneapolis Star Tribune. In her free time, she enjoys watching shows with her friends, going to alternative (and 80s) concerts and sitting in Starbucks sipping on a vanilla iced coffee.
Dylan Anderson is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. As the data editor, he is excited to see how data can tell the stories of non-traditional students at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He has worked for the Minnesota Daily covering the University’s administration and has had internships at APM Reports and the Star Tribune. To unwind, Dylan enjoys tracking baseball through statistics and woodworking.
Lew Blank is a senior studying journalism and political science. As editor, he’s excited to help this class produce high-quality work that authentically covers nontraditional students and leaves a lasting impact on the University. Formerly a reporter for the Minnesota Daily, he’s now managing a state senate campaign in Stillwater, Minn. and writing about policy for the thinktank Data for Progress. In his (increasingly rare) spare time, he’s probably draining stepback 3s on his intramural basketball team or slouched in a comfy chair playing online chess.
Natalie Cierzan is a third-year journalism major, with minors in political science and creative writing. While she’s one of story editors for this class, she also spends time as the science, technology and public health reporter for the Minnesota Daily. When she isn’t desperately trying to make scientific lingo understandable to the average person, she’s reading every Star Wars book she can.
Layna Darling is a senior majoring in journalism and political science. As the web editor, she is excited to share the stories of nontraditional students in visually appealing and accessible formats. You can also find her adding em dashes to stories at the Minnesota Daily as the copy desk chief. In her free time, she enjoys baking (burning) cookies, trying new restaurants and dancing.
Ksenia Gorinshteyn is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in environmental science. As the managing editor, she hopes to help uplift the stories that nontraditional students have shared. Ksenia also features artists, musicians and any odd hobbyists in the Twin Cities as an arts and entertainment reporter for the Minnesota Daily. When she’s not reporting, she loves baking bread, thrifting and seeing live music.
Maya Harris is a senior majoring in journalism with an outdoor recreation minor. As part of the web team, she is excited to share nontraditional narratives in unique ways. If not in the journalism school, you can find her at WCCO as the web intern. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors and teaching people about the planet.
Maddie Hillman is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. She currently works at Exploration High School, a startup charter school in Northeast Minneapolis, as the social media coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, listening to the Beatles and trying to learn the bass guitar.
Jiang Li is an international senior from China, majoring in journalism with an information technology minor. Her experience working for media organizations in different countries inspired her to think about the role of media and journalism under different ideologies. She is a reporter at the Minnesota Daily. In her spare time, she enjoys riding a Lime scooter and explore the antique stores in the Twin Cities.”
Laura Martinez is a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in German. As someone who has always been passionate about helping others, she is excited to contribute to the website as story editor. Outside of class she is often in Folwell Hall helping out at the German, Scandinavian, Nordic & Dutch department, writing newsletters for the Brazilian Student Association, or proofreading book manuscripts at Redleaf Press. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, spending time with friends and going to karaoke.
Becca Most is a senior majoring in journalism with art history and anthropology minors. When she’s not reporting on the environment for the Minnesota Daily, she likes to check out new thrift shops in the Cities, go to art museums and drink some green tea.
Grace O’Neil is a senior studying broadcast journalism and marketing. She is excited to tell stories related to the nontraditional student identity. Grace has interned with WCCO and KSTP locally and NBC nationally. In her free time, she runs a pastry blog, The Sunday Pastry, and loves going to her cabin.
Charlie Ouellette is a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in anthropology. Charlie works at the data desk, finding possibilities for data and creating visualizations for stories. When he’s not in class, he enjoys spending time outdoors, biking and reading.
Kendall Van Horne is a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in sociology of law, criminology and deviance. As a part of the web team, she is excited to make visually appealing stories. You might also find her in the KARE 11 newsroom or at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with her roommates, running (well, maybe enjoys is a strong word) and doing anything that involves water.
Yves De Jesus is a journalism senior who is ready to go out into a very strong job market. He covered the online learning beat for this project. His task was to find out more about the nontraditional educational experience of distant learners: What does it look like at U? How does it hold up? These questions eventually led him to write the kind of stories that you see on the site. Thanks for reading!