COMING AROUND AGAIN
Old dogs are learning new tricks as adult students return
to colleges to enhance their careers or springboard into new
ones. However, to attract these dedicated, engaged scholars
there's one question you should definitely NOT ask.
Written By
AMY MILSHTEIN
"Can everybody hear me ?"
seems like an innocuous icebreaker; a way to start a new class, particularly when posed by microphone-shy
faculty member who would rather not amplify his or her voice. It is, however, a terrible way to greet adult
students. This fast-growing group of learners is returning to college in great numbers seeking skill enhancement, career change, and community bonding. They bring life experiences, commitment to the class, and an
eagerness to share their skills. However, they don't want to be singled out for presbycusis.
Age-induced hearing loss aside, colleges are seeing an uptick in adult learners.
The American Association of Community Colleges responded by creating the Plus
50 Initiative to serve this growing group. "A recession always brings more people to
community colleges," says Norma Kent, senior vice president of communications,
American Associate of Community Colleges (AACC). "Between 2007 and 2011, we saw
a 20 percent rise in enrollment with a significant portion being adult learners."
The Plus 50 Completion Strategy kept track of these learners from 18 different
community colleges for the last two years. The results would warm any teacher's
BACK IN MY DAY… Adult learners often
heart. The primary goal of the Plus 50 Completion Strategy was to serve 9,000 Plus
need time to become familiar with current technology, such as tablets, laptops,
50 adult students across four years, with 3,600 (40 percent) completing a degree,
and netbooks.
certificate, or not-for-credit certificate. To date, the colleges have exceeded this goal,
serving 9,292 Plus 50 students with 4,243 (46 percent) of these students completTOP PHOTO SUPPLIED BY AND PROPERTY OF BENEDICTINE
ing a degree or credential. Four hundred (9 percent) of these students have secured
UNIVERSITY; ABOVE PHOTO COURTESY OF WISCONSIN LUemployment since completing their program.
THERAN COLLEGE, PHOTOGRAPHER: ERNIE MASTROIANNI
20
COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / MARCH 2013
WWW.PLANNING 4EDUCATION.COM