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about good practices and sound policies that accelerate the effective adoption and use of technologies in teaching and learning.
WCET Focus Area: Adult Learners
Background
Nearly 85% of today's college students are "non-traditional" - they're over 22, primarily working adults balancing work, family and school. These learners need programs that are flexible, challenging and relevant to their career. WCET is interested in helping institutions embrace this population of learners to attain the college completion goals set forth by the Obama Administration.
WCET Adult Learner Activities
The Transparency by Design (TbD) initiative powers the College Choices for Adults
Non-traditional No More: Policy Solutions for Adult Learners is a project that provides state and institutional leaders with a unique opportunity to increase access and success for the adult learner population in postsecondary education.
Are you a potential adult learner looking for information on going to college online?
Adult Learner Resources
Research
Hidden in Plain Sight: Adult Learners Forge a New Tradition in Higher Education - Peter J. Stokes. This paper examines how colleges and universities – supported by effective policy – can better align their educational offerings to meet the needs of adult learners and thereby play a critical role in increasing access to higher education and sustaining the health of our economy.
Late-Career Adults in Online Education: A Rewarding Experience for Individuals Aged 50 to 65 - Amy S. Gaumer Erickson and Patricia M. Noonan. This paper examines both the academic performance and instructional support needs of late-career adults (aged 50-65) in an online course as compared to early-career (aged 21-35) and mid-career (aged 36-49) adults.
Videos
Degrees of Difficulty – A special series by USA Today on the lives of adult learners trying to balance getting a college education with life.
Lumina Foundation for Education CEO, Jamie Meristois, on the importance of adult degree attainment.
Web Resources for Educators and Administrators
Lumina Foundation for Education is committed to enrolling and graduating more students from college — especially low-income students, students of color, first-generation students, and adult learners.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – Post Secondary Education: Postsecondary education can be a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, or a certificate. Our goal is to help double the number of low-income adults who earn a college degree or credential with genuine marketplace value by age 26.
The National Academic Advising Center (NACADA): Advising Adult Learners Commission serves advisors who spend a significant portion of their duties in serving adult students. Through the sharing of information and experience our commission assists advisors of adult learners to understand and address the unique needs of adult students.
The Association of Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE): ANTSHE is an international partnership of students, academic professionals, institutions, and organizations whose mission is to encourage and coordinate support, education, and advocacy for the adult learner.
