Although traditional student enrollment is declining, the nontraditional segment of students is growing. This enrollment pattern will require recruitment strategies that speak directly to the adult learners. There is robust adoption of social media use by individuals and by organizations for marketing purposes. Social media marketing includes…

Responses from 105 of 200 chief academic officers found the following: 49% had adult degree programs, only 40% had mission statements focusing on adult education, 87% grant credit for prior learning, 85% allow part-time degree completion, only 17% offer nontraditional delivery methods, and only 29% offer assistance to nonnative speakers of…

Prior learning assessment programs are characterized as having a highly individualized service or a more standardized pattern. Three model programs are described: Webster College in St. Louis, Adelphi University in Garden City, Long Island, and Sinclair Community College in Dayton. (Author/MLW)

A study of access students in the Open College Network (178 of 776) examined institutional and personal factors that inhibit or enhance program completion. Variations in program organization and delivery among different providers had a significant impact. (Contains 20 references.) (SK)

Suggested principles for designing accelerated degree programs for adults are provided the following components of a model of adult learning: prior experience/personal biographies psychosocial and value orientation, the connecting classroom (relating life experiences and academic learning), adult cognition, the life-world environment, and college…

Describes a New Zealand course which provides adult disabled students with information on university structure, knowledge and practice in academic skills, exposure to different subjects taught in the Faculty of Arts, and an insight into standards expected of university students. (CT)

Many degree programs for adults include a self-directed learning component to offer learners the opportunity to use mature skills in a flexible learning environment. Problems with making the self-directed component work may be the learning setting, learner attitudes, and fears of both skilled and less skilled adult learners. Some learner fears are…

Surveyed Virginia's colleges (N=23) to ascertain how financial resources, administrative support, and community interest might influence development of programs for older learners. Results indicated that general demand and administrative support were most positively related to growth while inadequate financial resources and cost to participants…

The University of Glamorgan (Wales) conducted a research project to determine the counseling and guidance needs of its mature students. The project's long-term objective was to develop a new institutional policy for a coordinated guidance and counseling system reflecting the different needs, perceptions, and situations of students and staff, and…

A study to identify the needs of mature adults by use of a questionnaire sent to undergraduate faculty asking for their perceptions of adult students is discussed. Results indicate interest in the needs of the adult population but that there is little experience with this audience among the faculty. (Author/MLW)

Discusses the following administrative factors that determine the success or failure of nontraditional programs: (1) the organization of the program, such as whether or not it is designated as a special division; (2) amount of resources available for its use; and (3) whether or not it has an advisory board. (JS)

Finland's traditionally closed system of higher education, in which continuing education has been segregated into special centers, must address the reality of reduced resources and consider incorporating continuing education into the university. Establishment of a separate vocational higher education institution could further diversify the system.…

At Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus in New York City, the large population of nontraditional students, primarily adults, is being encouraged to participate in the career planning process through existing programs, new scheduling, and new programing in four areas: freshman orientation; student activities; the career center; and academic…

Project REDEAL (Research and Evaluation of Distance Education for the Adult Learner) has designed a three-semester system for distance education. Design features have been recommended to maximize personal learner success as well as to have an impact on indicators of success. The individualized instructional environment recommended is a specific…

Companies commit 2 to 5 billion dollars annually to employee tuition assistance plans, and an estimated 17 to 24 million employees are eligible for some form of tuition assistance. Despite these figures and despite widespread interest in the tuition-aid idea, a low 3 to 5 percent of eligible employees currently take advantage of the educational…