the nontraditional student

Kristen Hunter

Past, Present and Future

Define the Nontraditional Student

Identify Motivation

Identify Challenges

Address Methods to Motivate and Retain

“We have a responsibility to enhance students’ collegiate learning

experience by understanding who they

are and what they need to have.”

(Bland 2003, p.6)

1970’s ◦ Business Recognition ◦ Tuition Reimbursement ◦ Training

Limitations ◦Delivery Model ◦ Location ◦ Support Services ◦ Time

(Husson and Kennedy, 2003)

Full time/Part time Employees

Married

Parents

Single Parents

Caregivers

Financially Independent

Nontraditional students are those who have a least one of the following characteristics: Delay postsecondary enrollment 1 year or more

after high school graduation or do not have a diploma

Enroll part time

Employed full time

Financially independent

Single parents

Have dependents (Compton, Cox and Laanan, 2006, p.73)

(Kasworm, 2003, p. 9.)

A co-worker was promoted to the position I wanted because he had a college degree – that was enough to get me to enroll (p.58).

My employer brought in new computers and new technology- I had to learn my way to adapting to the changes in my life work (p.58).

I wanted to show my kids that I could get an associate degree because they were always getting B and C grades (p.58).

(Aslanian, 2001, p.58).

Situational Barrier ◦Loss of Job

Dispositional Barrier ◦Multiple Roles

Institutional Barrier ◦Class Hours

(Fairchild, 2003)

“Customer service is the key to becoming a school that everyone says great things about and that year after year experiences positive growth in enrollment. A focus on customer service is the catalyst for a proactive vision of the future.”

(Hadfield, 2003, p.20)

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

Communication

Development of Seamless Processes

Social Programming

Hadfield (2003) says, “we must be obsessed with listening to our students and bringing them into the decision-making loop and relentless in our pursuit of improved customer service.”