Imagine taking finals for fun. Many ISU students are taking classes in return for nothing more than the joy of learning.

Cora Wortman, special student in liberal arts and sciences, is one of them.

Wortman, a retired Ames resident, said she is thankful to live in a town with a university where she can attend classes.

“I’ve always wanted to learn a foreign language and now I have the time to do it,” she said.

Carolyn Payne, program coordinator for the graduate college, said non-degree students represent a wide variety of studies and ages.

“Non-degree students take class for many reasons,” she said. “Some [non-degree students] are seeking professional certification for work, some take classes to transfer to other schools and some just take classes for the pleasure of learning and continuing their education.”

Over the past three semesters Wortman has taken German 101, 102 and 201. Next semester she plans to take German 202.

Wortman said she can now share the new skills she has learned in class with her son-in-law and granddaughter, who also speak German.

The back-to-school transition was not a problem for Wortman. She said students in her classes have been accepting of her.

“The students have been wonderful. I really feel like I’m a part of the class,” she said.

Though Wortman said she has not experienced any problems getting into the German classes she has taken, other non-degree students aren’t always as lucky.

Nancy Osborn Johnsen, student services specialist in liberal arts and sciences, said non-degree students are given last priority when enrolling for classes.

“All [non-degree] students’ registration start date is after freshman registration, which makes it difficult for special students to enroll in the classes they want,” she said.

Johnsen said several departments enforce strict class enrollment regulations ,such as classes for department majors only and multiple prerequisites. Many non-degree students enroll in LAS classes because the department has fewer class restrictions than many other departments, she said.

The College of Business makes it difficult for non-major students to enroll in its classes, said Karen Terpstra, student services specialist for business undergraduate programs.

Students must be admitted into the business program to take many of the business courses available through Iowa State. This process is needed to keep business majors on course to graduate, she said.

Payne said the system has not deterred non-degree students. Approximately 11.5 percent of the graduate college is made up of non-degree students, she said.