University seniors no longer have jobs lined up after graduation, according to the satirical website The Onion. Instead, they line up for an “excruciating 14-month employment search.”[1] In any good…
Student
Who’s the Boss? The Unexpected Challenges of Transitioning from the Military to Higher Ed
Jo Emanuelson | Student, Christopher Newport UniversityI was on active duty in the Army for six and a half years. The experience, however short, sticks with me in ways that are hard to explain to civilians.…
The following interview is with James Osborn, a Marine Corps veteran and student at Penn State University. Osborn recently spoke about the value of accelerated evening classes for working adult…
Helping Middle-Skilled Workers Find a Job (Part 2)
Sharon Burton | Director of Publishing Initiatives, American Meridian UniversityThis is the conclusion of Sharon Burton’s two-part series on helping middle-skilled workers find a new start in the knowledge economy. In the first part, Burton discussed the changing nature…
Technology has been driving significant changes in the American workforce over the past few decades. Employers have placed higher premiums, salaries and benefits on educated workers due to the increasing…
Five Ways for Colleges and Universities to Better Serve Adults
Shannon Conner | Founder and President, Seminole State College of Florida the Non-Traditional Student Club—Co-written with Melissa Cunningham | Club Committees Officer, Seminole State College of Florida— The majority of college students are not carefree 18 to 22-year-olds studying full time, living on campus,…
The following interview is with Michele Custoreri, an inventory specialist at Caesarstone Canada. After Custoreri was laid off from her first career, she took advantage of a provincial government program…
Transformation through Higher Education
Lori Perkovich | Master's Student, New York UniversityPrior to attending University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), I was narrowly focused professionally. If I wanted a specific project, I went after it. When I wanted to…
Everyone wants to be part of a community. It is part of human nature. We need to know people care about us and want the best for us. We seek…
Benefits of Certification and Professional Organizations
Dan Beare | Environmental Professional and Current Events BloggerIn my last piece, I discussed some of the lessons learned while searching for employment. I’ve noticed it’s becoming increasingly common for jobs descriptions to require professional certifications or membership…
The following interview is with Jo Emanuelson, a non-traditional student at Christopher Newport University. Emanuelson, who writes for the university’s student newspaper, The Captain’s Log, recently penned an article discussing…
Minimizing Transactional Distance in Online Learning
Tanya D. Von Canon | Undergraduate Student, University of Arizona SouthOnline learning has transformed the delivery of education for today’s students. People are able to access online courses from the comfort of their own homes. As a result, online courses…
University leaders and politicians often speak about the importance of completing a postsecondary education. The Lumina Foundation and the federal government set a 60 percent degree for national degree completion…
Three Lessons Learned On the Job Hunt with Two Degrees
Dan Beare | Environmental Professional and Current Events BloggerAfter finishing my undergraduate degree I, like many others, decided to upgrade my skills and pursue graduate school as the 2008 financial crisis plagued the global economy and workforce opportunities.…
Non-traditional students are not like college students who are new high school graduates. Most non-traditional students have been out of school for a minimum of five years and, often times,…
Maturity and Drive Helps Non-Traditional Students Succeed
Saundra Vernon | Student, Saint Mary’s UniversityThe following is one of two winning essays composed for the 2013 Mary Cone Barrie Scholarship. The scholarship is one of few annual awards that recognize non-traditional students and their…
The following is one of two winning essays composed for the 2013 Mary Cone Barrie Scholarship. The scholarship is one of few annual awards that recognize non-traditional students and their…
Exploring Degree Financing for Non-Traditional Students
Tennis Lilly | Master’s Student, Lesley UniversityI have just returned from bringing my youngest daughter, Melanie, to Bentley University for her junior year. Bentley is widely regarded as one of the finest universities in America and…
In the past few years, more and more adults are enrolling in higher education as non-traditional students. The idea of going back to school and earning a degree sounds brilliant…
Three Tips for Non-Traditional Students Seeking Financial Assistance
Jayrod Garrett | Student, Weber State UniversityAt the Nontraditional Student Center at Weber State University (WSU) there is a question I expect from students weekly: “Are you offering any scholarships?” I’ll usually ask how they learned…
Higher education administrators seem to have a number of misconceptions about adult students in their programs. As a non-traditional adult student, I have experienced treatment based on these misconceptions by…
Loan Increases Out of Synch with Education Goals
Lori Perkovich | Master's Student, New York UniversityI decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree as a non-traditional student because I wanted a career change that had specific education requirements. Moreover, I sought longevity in the workplace and…
As we learn how to work with traditional and non-traditional students, one of the things we will discover is how similar our needs are. Looking back on my time as…
Institutions Should Offer Information Update Courses for Alumni
Erika Janovich | Marketing Coordinator, StressCrete GroupHaving graduated in 2008 in the heart of a recession, finding employment was difficult. I was not successful but went back to my previous career in retail. After more than…
Adults continuing their education need to be involved in campus activities and community services. Extracurricular activities provide skills not found in the classroom. Participation allows adult students to meet new…
Exploring the Ethics of Online Education
Tanya D. Von Canon | Undergraduate Student, University of Arizona SouthCommon knowledge tells us elements associated with career success include a strong work ethic, effective completion of career responsibilities and the ability to interact well with diverse groups of people.…
I recently wrote an article about my rationale for choosing to complete a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) and how I felt it could benefit my effort of lifelong learning.…
Choosing a University over a MOOC: There’s More to Higher Education than Learning
Todd McCullough | President, Adults Belong in CollegeWith so many possible pathways available for today’s students, the competitive nature of the business of higher education has reached an all-time high. Today, students can choose to participate in…
For some people, the thirst for knowledge can never be fully quenched. In many cases, people who want to expand their education enroll in college courses and/or programs. However, with…
Strong Advising Critical for Adult Students
Lori Perkovich | Master's Student, New York UniversityAs the number of non-traditional students rises at universities, one service that could stand improvement is student advising. Not all universities have offices dedicated to non-traditional students, but they should.…