Adult learners, or undergraduate students aged 24 years or older, represent one third of the undergraduate student population in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the pathways to thriving for undergraduate adult learners, taking into consideration their entering characteristics and life circumstances. Thriving has been…

This mixed methods study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine the fit of a model of thriving in 264 adult Hispanic undergraduates, then performed a content analysis of student comments. Thriving was defined as intellectual, interpersonal, and psychological engagement in the student experience. The student comments confirmed the SEM…

In current Western societies, the number of students dropping out of school is high. At the same time, the importance of education leads to an increase in Second Chance Education (SCE) initiatives as an alternative way to obtain a degree. Little is known about the roles SCE can play as a learning environment for students "'dropping in'"…

The focus of this paper is to report the findings of a qualitative study whose purpose was to analyse the experiences of adult learners pursuing evening postgraduate degree programmes at the university level in Tanzania. Using ethnographic research combined with multiple case research design, together with in-depth interviews and documentary…

A college graduate who is employed full-time will earn more than someone with a high school diploma or a college dropout. Students who do not persist tend to drop out or stop-out by the fifth term (the beginning of the third year). How best to track these students is disputed. Some argue that the second-term retention rate is the best predictor.…

Self-Directed Learning (SDL) is a process in which adult learners initiate their inner motivation to learn by themselves to increase their knowledge, skills and experiences from resources and evaluating learning outcomes. Knowledge Management (KM) is the process of creating, sharing, using and managing the knowledge and resources of an…

The California Community Colleges (CCC) system has adopted an equity-imperative approach to systemic reforms. As part of this effort, and to meet the state's workforce demands of the future, the system has focused on better serving the needs of adult learners, those between the ages of 25 and 64 with some college but no degree. The current impact…

Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) are tasked with providing preservice teachers with pedagogical theory, practical field experiences, mentorship, and scaffolded professional dispositions during critical phases of their preparation. In addition, EPPs collaborate with school districts and state departments of education to address critical issues…

The purpose of this article is to provide information and data that will contribute to the enhancement of teaching methodologies for online learning and teaching at all educational levels and disciplines (including adult education). More specifically, it attempts to shed light on media trends and prospects as educational activities and techniques,…

Adult learners have more options for enrolling in postsecondary education than ever before, and they are able to use their learning style preference in deciding which program best meets their needs. For some of these students, those programs are fully online, and for others, there is minimal use of technology. As technology grows and become more…

This study examined the associations between adult education and training (AET) participation, educational attainment, literacy skills, gender, and race/ethnicity among the U.S. adult population aged 25 to 65 years old (n = 5,450). Given the socioeconomic advancements of women and racial/ethnic minorities in the last few decades, including higher…

Driven by a shifting landscape and increased competition for students, institutions of higher education (IHE) are working to differentiate themselves to consumers in order to attract new students. These differentiation efforts have increasingly focused on the adult, non-traditional student demographic. As IHEs strive to include claims of quality…

Purpose: In the era of m-learning environments, multiple factors have been considered to explain adult learners' continuance usage intention, but largely without considering the role of specific configurations of variables and how they may affect learners' intention. The purpose of this study is to show how cognitive need, subjective norms,…

Adult learners in the early 21st century are no longer the fringe group they once were because their numbers and their significance are both on the rise. Thus, the time is right to reframe our understanding about how adult learners of today perceive their experiences of going to school while also managing their other life-role responsibilities.…

Student enrollment data show an increase in the number of women returning to college after employment. Adult women returning to college are more likely to juggle other roles, including mother, spouse, caregiver, and community member while attending college. Higher education administrators have insufficient knowledge about what efforts are…