In February 2009, President Obama stated in his speech to Congress, one of his goals was to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Since then monies have been moved into grant programs to increase technology in the classrooms and promote alternative learning that includes distance learning. However, what has been done to increase enrollments of adult students?
Some would argue it has already happened as a by-product of the poor economy and loss of jobs. Layoffs have forced much of the workforce back to school to improve their skills, get new skills, or rethink their futures with a new career path. Community Colleges have seen record enrollments and report that their non-traditional student population is growing.
Now what? So yes, schools do show increasing enrollments of adult students that will ultimately help reach the President's goal for 2020. But what is being done to retain these students? What is the plan to provide student services that are meaningful and helpful to this population? Schools that weather this influx of new enrollees will pay attention to the demographic of their audience. They will get a strategic planning team together and create systems to support the adult learner.
A recent discussion on Capitol Hill, highlighted the need for such services. Plans will include looking at the current job market and futuristic trends (example: green initiatives). Getting to know the students and their needs. Providing flexible schedules to accomodate families, illnesses, and work schedules (example: distance learning). Also, paying attention to the common challenges associated with an older student (example: perhaps low technical competency, stronger level of commitment, more needy or less needy of personal help from instructor, etc).
Once a plan is put in place it will be crucial for schools to implement services that make sense. Doing so will create a supportive environment that promotes successful students with completed degrees. In particular a school may consider having an online counselor available to help adult students juggle all the demands of work, school, and family. While a traditional student may need an individual on-campus to provide counseling on how to handle being away from home, managing money, and help with prioritizing.
With a calculated effort, not only will enrollments continue to rise, but more non-traditional students will re-enter the workforce with new skills, confidence, and that much closer to a nationwide goal!
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