An enlightening view on serving the adult student in higher education.

1. Kristi Hansen, MOL
Academic Advisor
St. Ambrose University

2. Agenda
 What defines a non-traditional student?
 St. Ambrose ACCEL services and structures
 What do you do at your institution?
 Resources

3. Defining Non-Traditional Students
 The adult-learner
 The commuter
 The transfer student
 The returning student
Any student, regardless of age, who has
adult responsibilities beyond college
classes, and for whom those adult
responsibilities take priority in times of
crisis.”
– NACADA Adult Learner Commission

4. Defining Non-Traditional Students
 Living off-campus
 Parent of 1+ children
 Working full-time
 Beyond traditional 18-22 college age
 Previous college experiences
 Financially independent

5. Student Concerns
 What are the program options?
 How do I find the schedules?
 What do I need to know about computers?
 Where do I get my books?
 How do I start?
 How do I pay for it?
 Who else will be in the classes?
 Can I do this?

6. Student Desires
 Want to be self-directed
 Want to receive credit for experiences
 Strive off organization and outlined goals
 Need to see relevancy and applicability
 Minimal contact hours away from outside
responsibilities
 Challenging and rewarding experience
 Complete a degree as soon as possible

7. St. Ambrose University & ACCEL
2009
 2885 undergrads; 844 graduates
 ACCEL – 435 students
 22% of these students were under 30
 31% between the ages of 30-39
 29% between the ages of 40-49
 18% between the ages of 50-59
 1% over 60 years of age
 72% were female and 28% male

8. ACCEL Structures and Services
 Convenient Off-site Location
 Evening/Weekend Classes
 Adjuncts are Community Professionals
 Small Class Sizes (18-24)
 Comfortable Seminar-Style Classrooms and Teamrooms
 Focus on one class at a time
 Nine Start Times a Year
 Multiple Delivery and Course Formats
 Module Format
 Individual Degree Plans
 Discounted Tuition Rates
 Deferred Employer Payment Plans
 Recognition
 Opportunities to Voice Concerns and Opinions

9. Biggest Challenges
 Electronic textbooks
 Increasing student ownership of degree plans
 Lacking adult student seminar
 Career focus inventory
 Organization of priorities
 Life balance
 Feeling a part of the SAU campus
 Connections with main campus departments
 Tracking retention
 Mangled Web site

10. What happens at your
institution?
 How do you treat non-traditional students
differently?
 Is there an importance in doing so?
 What can we do better?
 How can this network share ideas more
fluidly?

11. Resources
 National ACademic ADvisor Association:
http://www.nacada.ksu.edu
 Association for Non-Traditional Students in
Higher Education: http://www.antshe.org/
 Council for Adult and Experiential Learning:
http://www.cael.org
 American Association for Adult and
Continuing Education: www.aaace.org
 World Wide Learn:
www.worldwidelearn.com