This chapter highlights several of the significant design and facilitation considerations used to support adult working learners pursuing online learning across educational contexts. These include the integration of inclusive online learning practices, the design and facilitation of quality interactions in the online environment, and application…

To sustain the higher education industry and address U.S. economic downturns, researchers must prioritize research on undergraduates aged 24 or above -- contemporary students. This empirical study finds contemporary students have lower chances of attaining degrees--"any degrees"--than their younger peers. Using nationally representative…

In the era of digital transformation, the intersection of adult learning, digital competence, global progress, and sustainable development emerges as a pivotal focus. This article dives into the complex interaction of these factors centering on the pivotal role of digital competence in advancing sustainable development goals through adult…

The resources that federal financial aid, state financial aid, and federal public benefits programs provide, when they operate effectively, are critical to older students and students with children. This report seeks to shed light on how these programs are functioning by analyzing data and policies across four states--Colorado, Missouri, North…

State and national initiatives focused on meeting student completion goals have been established for higher education to help produce a stronger workforce and meet economic labor market demands. Some of these initiatives have been centered around improving adult learner enrollment and completion. More adult learners are returning to higher…

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the experiences of adult graduate students who stop-out, or take a break from enrollment, but who ultimately persist by reenrolling. The participants in this study were enrolled in an online master's degree program. Symbolic interactionism was the theoretical framework for this study…

This qualitative study was an exploration of the lived experiences of adult learners (over age 24) enrolled in graduate teacher preparation programs and their distinct needs and expectations related to program entry, persistence, and completion. Five graduate teacher preparation degree-seeking study participants openly shared their respective…

Every student deserves a college education that provides a welcoming environment regardless of demographics. For adult students and students with autism, academic environments may not contain the needed protective support interventions for these populations to be successful. This study seeks to address the gap in literature that exists regarding…

According to the 2020 Training Industry Report conducted by "Training Magazine," organizations across all industries and sizes have spent $87.5 billion in training per year. The average training budget for a large company was reported at $22 million, whereas a midsized company was $808,000 and a small-sized company reported a yearly…

This study sought to understand the essence of calling development in emerging adults enrolled at university through an interpretative phenomenological analysis of nine semistructured interviews at a small mid-western public university. The conclusions of the study suggest the essence of calling development for this population is the process of…

It is generally agreed upon that most individuals who acquire a college degree do so in their early 20s. Despite this consensus, we show that in the US from the 1930 birth cohort onwards a large fraction -- around 20% -- of college graduates obtained their degree after age 30. We explore the implications of this phenomenon. First, we show that…

This Ideas in Practice article investigates lifelong learning practices in a women's studies course at a program of Osher OLLI (Lifelong Learning Institute). The course adopted a holistic and positive approach by celebrating lifelong learners' strengths--their invaluable backgrounds and life experiences--fostering vitality and wholesomeness in…

If the Australian government is going to reach its target of 40% of 25-34-year-olds attaining a bachelor degree by 2025, it is critical that enabling courses are properly situated to bridge the gap between the alarmingly low numeracy of the adult population, and the mathematical or quantitative literacy (QL) required for undergraduate study. Yet,…

Background: The generalization of established motivation hypothesis states that individuals use established motivational beliefs to predict motivational beliefs regarding novel learning content on the basis of the perceived similarity between academic domains. Aims: This study tests the generalization hypothesis by investigating the assumed…

This study collected and examined the beliefs, opinions, and perceptions of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) at three public universities in the Pacific Northwest. This study used a qualitative multiple-case study design and provided the opportunity to collectively compare data collected on each campus and across the three campuses. Through…