In 2000, five national organizations dealing with non-traditional students within higher education institutions (including ANTSHE (Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education) collaborated to create a national Non-traditional Student Week to recognize the contributions of nontraditional students engaged in learning in community colleges and universities across the United States.

Institutions and members are encouraged to plan events to recognize the non-traditional students on their campus, as well as highlight efforts that improved their adult student environment. National Non-traditional Student Week is held the first full week of November each year.

MTSU typically holds an open house for students to drop by and a potluck dinner on Thursday evening of that week. The Pinnacle Honor Society inducts its new fall members and those graduating in December receive awards.

This year, the 20th anniversary of Older Wiser Learners, OWLs, will bring OWLs alumni back to the dinner and the speaker will be Dallas Nichols, OWLs President, 1994-1996, to share experiences beyond graduation as inspiration for our current students.