When we think of adult learners and how to approach them as admissions counselors, program advisors and instructors, several aspects of their adult status usually come to mind. Among these are the fact that adults play multiple roles in their lives, that they often have anxiety about returning to school and that many times they are experiencing some sort of life transition at the time they decide to return to school. One characteristic of current and prospective adult students that is often overlooked, particularly by the administration, is the fact that they are consumers and are generally looking for the most out of their time and money.

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build relationships, advising approaches, adult learners, Kenn Skorupa

This article describes Sacred Heart University's Hispanic Adult Achievers Program, a program established to address the unique educational needs of Latinos who have immigrated to the United States as adults. The article includes student achievement and retention data, as well as a brief discussion of the advising and retention strategies used.

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academic support, community relationships, cultural capital, cultural differences, advising strategy, NACADA, Academic Advising Today, academic advising, adult learners, James Minor

Many students attend community colleges against all odds and yet they succeed. This success is due in no small part to the effort and dedication of community college advisors, faculty and staff. The culture of the community college is one that embraces, engages, and elevates students. As soon as a student enters a community college, he or she is welcomed. Welcome comes from staff at the information desk, from a recruiter in prospective student services, from the student worker at the admissions desk, from an academic advisor in a central advising office, and from faculty members walking down the halls.

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academic cultural capital, encouraging students, adult learners, Peggy Jordan, nontraditional students, students

As we continue to study First Generation College Students, we become increasingly aware of several subgroups within this special population of students. We can identify adult students with family and job responsibilities, those who are among the first in their families to be born in this country, and foster care alumni who are aging out of the foster care system as three subgroups advisors can assist. Each of these groups faces particular issues as they seek a college education. A closer look at these students reveals special needs that academic advisors must take into account if they are to provide these students with the care they require to succeed.

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proactive advising, build relationships, academic support, at-risk students, cultural differences, preparedness, underprepared students, adult learners, first generation students, Joseph Murray, Ila Schauer, Chris Bennette Klefeker

While academic advisors can, and do, provide guidance and the occasional shoulder, advisors cannot serve as a substitute for the camaraderie and support that comes from a fellow student, someone who is in the trenches.

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peer advising, adult learners, Lisa Peck

As veterans transition from a military to collegiate setting, both veterans and the campus communities must adjust to the change and the differing value systems held within the military and academic communities.

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at-risk students, adult learners, disabilities, John Mikelson

Advisors play an important role in the success of non-traditional students. It is critical that we reflect upon our advisor preparation and expectations if we are to help them succeed.

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advisor training, at-risk students, Jennifer Varney, adult learners, Lorneth Peters, MeHee Hyun, Sylvie Taylor

Advising for online learners should respond to their unique needs, instead of requiring them to fit within an established organizational structure...Online learners require a “high touch” level of service in a “high tech” environment.

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adult learners, distance, Sharriette Finley, Jeanna Chapman

What do nontraditional female students say about their experience as adult learners? Their voices speak eloquently to advisors about the importance of listening and responding to student needs...

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adult learners, Tamra Ortgies Young, Pat Mason-Browne

Adult students need to be considered in the big picture of campus culture, and I think my initial hesitancy in working with them parallels common misconceptions about adult students and their place in higher education.  This outdated view is quickly being established as antiquated as universities are institutionalizing policies and creating spaces to support all students… Here are five critical lessons I have learned about this ever-important, rising student population.

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adult learners, John Rans

Career and Technical Education (CTE) students tend to focus on earning a certificate or degree to improve their current employment status. These students often return to community colleges seeking new job skills; they inquire about their career goals and their plans to achieve those goals. As advisors, how do we best assist them?

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adult learners, Christine Smith Osley

Because non-traditional students have different characteristics and needs than traditional students, advisors must adapt the way they interact with this unique population.

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adult learners, Lisa Sapp, Stephanie Williams

Higher education professionals often think that since transfer students have already attended another college, they don’t need as much attention or assistance.  The students often think that since they’ve attended another institution they know all they need to know.  Both of these thoughts couldn’t be further from the truth.

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adult learners, Kim Morton, transfer students

With increasing numbers of student veterans entering the nation’s colleges and universities, it is critical that professionals in higher education understand the unique perspectives and experiences they bring to the campus and that appropriate models to support their academic success are developed.

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communication, build relationships, advisor competencies, advisor training, academic support, at-risk students, community relationships, advising theory, cultural differences, advising strategy, critical thinking, advising approaches, adult learners, Coby Dillard, deal

Much like letting young adults spread their wings, an advisor needs to be alert, offering assistance when necessary, but knowing when to let the student “learn the ropes” of academic life to ensure they become strong, independent learners.

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role of advisor, academic support, at-risk students, probation, procrastination, preparedness, advising strategy, critical thinking, advising approaches, encouraging students, underprepared students, conditional admit program, adult learners, Katherine Carlman

The 49er Finish Program at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has been actively pursuing its stop out students for over 10 years, catering to adult learners who are seeking to finish what they started.  Tactics are threefold: personalized marketing, support services, and institutional enhancements.

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build relationships, academic support, student motivation, advising strategy, advising approaches, encouraging students, persistence, adult learners, Eileen Snyder, Leana Zona

Nontraditional student enrollment continues to make up a large portion of undergraduate student populations on both traditional college campuses and in the distance-learning sector. Institutions that wish to retain and help their adult learners be successful will need to be aware of the nontraditonals’ time and effort limitations and provide ways to support them academically to facilitate completion.

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retention, graduation rates, academic support, student motivation, encouraging students, persistence, adult learners, Genta Stanfield