The Importance Of Non-Traditional College Students

Being a non-traditional student, I have the opportunity to attend school while also pursuing a career in Information Technology (IT). Within the field of IT there are many avenues to explore ethics depending on the type of business that is being supported, or what the technical specialty may be. For instance, if the business operates in a medical environment that treats patients, there are privacy concerns, and ethical standards that must be followed. The same can be said for the financial community, and education. While the breadth of Information Technology and the available specializations are vast, perhaps even more impressive are the amount of trust and ethical burden placed on the Information Technology professional.

The vast majority of employees seeking upward mobility within the workplace often pursue education as the most effective means of achieving these goals. (Kim and Baker, 2015). The adult student does not receive the same benefits as a traditional student on campus. The adult students apply for financial aid and qualify for student loans. The traditional students qualify for scholarships and grants. The adult student gave that the majority of adult learners are likely employed, their opportunity costs compared to those of a traditional student have substantially different aspects. (Kim and Baker, 2015). Adult learners’ educational pursuits are largely job-related, while conversely, traditional students’ jobs are not related to their field of study. (Kim and Baker,

Finding out early which type of student you are will help you out in the long run. Traditional students tend to be more productive in school when it comes to doing work and actual attendance. They keep up on homework better and have less distractions, so they also tend to have a higher graduation rate then none traditional students. Additional students will have a higher stress rate from school induce stress than a nontraditional student. "However, the traditional students reported actually attending class more often, as well as worrying about school performance more often".(HENLEY, January 1998). Nontraditional students on the other hand tend to be affected less by school induced stressed and more by their problems outside of school. For example

The topic I choose to do my term project on was looking at college as a subculture. The definition of subculture is a cultural group within a large culture. These groups often have similar beliefs or interests. Everybody who attends college and be put into a category of a subculture.

According to Lundberg (2003), “adult students are one of the most rapidly growing segments of today’s college student population, making up approximately 40% of all college students” (665).

I choose these four articles below because either I could relate to them, in some form or fashion, or I gained knowledge of the events as well as people in the articles. The natural plumbing article I found insightful, how infrastructure has changed so much. The Anne Frank article I did not remember her story from childhood, through this article I have been encouraged to gain more knowledge about WWII and the concentration camps. Coronel Sanders and his celebrity reign with his franchise KFC encouraged me to stay focused and not give up. Hence why I am a non-traditional college student, I want to finish something I started years ago for self-gratification. The slave sold to save Georgetown I related to because of the similarity of recently finding out about my ancestry and who is in my family lineage.

Traditionally adult learners are students who are pursuing education in either, college (undergraduate or graduate degrees), vocational or occupational programs, continuing education or noncredit courses, correspondence courses and tutoring, as well as courses and other educational activities provided by employers, community groups, and other providers ("Adult Learner," 2012). The average age of an adult learner is 25 years or older, it usually is a diverse group of people ("Adult Learner," 2012). These adult learners can be an independent student, employed full time, a person with dependents,

Abstract Aimee Horton and Malcolm Knowles were giants among lifelong learners and had many similarities as well as several contrasts. Their passion was adult learning. Both spent their career passionately facilitating learning for adults while achieving advanced degrees. The two scholars were very similar in their desire that all adults wanted to and could learn. They saw a rapid ever-changing world and the need to adapt to ensure that adult learners was not left behind or taught like children.

Knowles posits that adult learners are self directed and autonomous. They are goal oriented, practical and must see and understand the relevance of any training. Adults bring an abundance of experience and knowledge, experiential learning, with them. Most importantly, “…adults need to be shown respect.” (Lieb)

In recent years, many adults have found themselves underemployed, jobless or without the necessary tools to compete in today's job market. Therefore, deciding to return to school (or start) has become almost a necessity. Enrolling in school as an adult can be stressful. Other factors such as having a family to take care of and a house to manage, further complicate the decision. As some of today's adult students are finding out, it is doable if that person has the right mindset, strategy and support.

Universities are largely composed of contingents of continuing-generation students and professors. This is especially true in elite universities where much of the professors have themselves graduated from elite universities. The same system of institutional stratification that beckons students also grants access to administrators who predominately hold desirable characteristics of the upper middle class . First-generation college students are underrepresented in elite colleges and are far more likely to attend community college than their continuing-generation counterparts . Research of first-generation college students at elite universities has recently begun to emerge in Sociology of Education. However, thorough examination of their path

Underrepresented College Students: A Social Capital Perspective. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 3(2), 111-125. doi: 10.1037/a0019249

Today's workers need to prepare with continuous job training, growth and development. Given the increased age, experiences and diverse lifestyles of the working population, it is understandable that adult education practices must move beyond the traditional model of teachers and learners, while new skills, working with local companies to match their needs and sending staff into factories and other workplaces to spread the word about state and federal retraining assistance. While trying to decide how to rebuild your life after loss of employment and lack of job opportunities following the current recession, or devastated from a divorce? Adult students faced with other struggles; studies have shown that older adult students face different hurdles, family problems, and poor self-image. These along with poor time management, weaker academic preparation and a need for remediation an increased focus on adult learners and their needs can help. (armour)

David Deggs is an assistant professor in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. He teaches coursework in adult learning theory and teaching strategies, program evaluation, and research methods. His research focuses on how community values affect educational attainment and adult learners in higher education.

Time management is more often than not a challenge for many students. This is more so the case for adult students. It is important to note that unlike their younger counterparts, adult learners face a host of unique challenges when it comes to the management of time. In addition to the demands of their fulltime or part-time jobs, adult learners often have to attend to other responsibilities including but not limited to child care and other familial obligations. This text clearly demonstrates how adult learners can better manage their time for academic success.