“I’ve got too many responsibilities … I’m too old … I can’t afford it” are among the statements that many adults frequently say when describing why they haven’t returned to finish their higher education degree. Still, in the past 20 years, the number of “non-traditional” (the term used to describe college learners over the age of 25) has increased to where they now account for approximately 40% of the college-going population. Recent research from the National Center for Education Statistics reports that more than one third of the 17.6 million people who enrolled in college in the fall of 2011 are over age 25 and one quarter were over age 30. Additionally, it is expected that this number will increase by more than 20 percent by 2019.
What has been described as the “non-traditional” student could easily be called the “new-traditional” student who is looking to complete a bachelor’s degree or earn a master’s degree in a convenient and efficient format. The new-traditional student now attends one course one night a week, is often a part of a student cohort group that systematically moves through a course of study, and completes degree requirements on an accelerated schedule (within 15 – 20 months). These students know what it’s like to juggle work, family and school. They are provided a clear academic path, have support from dedicated faculty, benefit from advanced technology, and learn with a group of fellow adults who share in economizing time and energy while looking for greater workplace opportunity.
Although adult responsibilities, age and finances are among the reasons for some adults not returning to finish a higher education degree, anxiety or fear is also a reality. Looking back I clearly remember returning for a graduate degree, having been out of college for about 15 years. Doubt loomed large. The first day of class I sat with a cohort group of high-achieving adults and we were all scared. Fortunately, this didn’t last long. Now, as a professor for non-traditional students, I see and feel the fear in my adult students on the first night that these students begin a new commitment to earning a higher education degree. Yes, they soon learn to manage anxiety, find their academic equilibrium, and eventually experience academic achievements that help to achieve their professional goals.
Non-traditional or new-traditional students frequently share with me how much better it is to experience college this “second time around” and they attribute this to the decisive academic style that is designed for the adult student. Educators to non-traditional students know that it’s imperative to connect the academic experience with the real world because relevant education enhances the learning outcome.
For more information about earning a higher education degree, please visit www.apu.edu/murrieta. For the past 30 years, APU Murrieta has been part of the larger Southwest Riverside County area and we are proud of our many graduates!
Vickie Becker, EdD, is the Executive Director for the Azusa Pacific University Murrieta Regional Center. She may be reached at 951.304.3400 or Murrieta@apu.edu
