Staying Attuned to the Boom Enrollment Management and Planning Priorities for Non- Traditional Students

Transcription

1 Staying Attuned to the Boom Enrollment Management and Planning Priorities for Non- Traditional Students Dr. Barbara Keener, Capella University, Earth Kishia Brock, Rio Salado College, Arizona Richard Liedtke, Park University, Missouri

2 Agenda What we know about adult learners Non-Traditional Adult Learner Characteristics and Attitudes Enrollment Management Leadership Best Practices for Serving Non-Traditional Adult Students Rio Salado College Park University Capella University Other

3 Principles of Effectiveness for Serving Adult learners Outreach Life & Career Planning Financing Assessment of Learning Outcomes Teaching-Learning Process Student Support Systems Technology Strategic Partnerships

4 Who are the adult learners? Have delayed enrollment into postsecondary education Attend part-time Are financially independent of parents Work full-time while enrolled Have dependents other than a spouse/partner Are a single parent Lack a standard high school diploma

5 Who are the adult learners? 25 years of age or older 40% of the nation s 16 million college and university students Typical learner 38.8 years old

6 Who are the adult learners Majority are married One-third have a dependent under 18 in house Nearly one-third are employed as professional Average household income of $76,800

7 Who are the adult learners?

8 Demographic Forecast Fewer than 40% of American adults posses a higher education degree In order to meet the international competiveness goal of 55% Increase degree production by 40% Increase degree awarding by 16 million in 17 years 90% of the fastest growing jobs will require some form of higher education

9 Attitudes of Adult Learners Supplement to the Noel Levitz National Freshman Attitude Report ,867 first year non-traditional-age students from 235 colleges and universities Cross-section of institutions Non-traditional age = 25 + Motivational characteristics

10 What do you know? In small groups select the ones with highest adult agreement adult and traditional student agreement responses were rated on a scale of 1-7 Rating Scale Not at all true Completely True

11 Desire to Finish College I have a very strong desire to continue my education, and I am quite determined to finish a degree I am very strongly dedicated to finishing collegeno matter what obstacles get in my way I am deeply committed to my educational goals, and I'm fully prepared to make the effort and sacrifices that will be needed to attain them

12 Attitude Toward Educators Most teachers have a superior attitude that I find very annoying

13 Intellectual Interests Over the years, books have broadened my horizons and stimulated my imagination I get a great deal of satisfaction from reading I don't enjoy reading serious books and articles, and I only do it when I have to

14 Study Habits I take very careful notes during class, and I review them thoroughly before a test I study very hard for all my courses, even those I don't like When I try to study, I usually get bored and quit after a few minutes

15 Math and Science Confidence Math has always been a challenge for me

16 Verbal Confidence I pick up new vocabulary words quickly, and I find it easy to use them in my speech and writing

17 Career Closure I have found a potential career that strongly attracts me I have made a firm decision to enter a certain occupation and have begun planning my life around that decision

18 Family Emotional Support When I was a child, my parents usually understood me, respected my judgment, and treated me in ways that helped me grow. My family and I communicated very well when I was young, and we had a good understanding of each other's point of view My family had a one way of looking at me when I was a child, and they didn't understand my feelings very well When I was a child, the other members of my family often said hurtful things that caused unpleasant feelings

19 Sense of Financial Security I have financial problems that are very distracting and troublesome

20 Sociability I greatly enjoy getting together with a crowd of people and having fun

21 Opinion Tolerance I get along well with people who disagree with my opinion openly I can feel comfortable with someone who thinks quite differently than I do on major social issues

22 Receptivity to Academic Assistance I would like to receive some individual help in improving my math skills

23 Receptivity to Financial Guidance I would like to talk to someone about getting a part-time job during the regular school year I would like to talk to someone about the opportunities available for summer employment

24 Receptivity to Social Enrichment I would like to attend an informal gathering where I can meet some new friends I would like to find out more about the clubs and social organizations at my college I would like to find out more about student government and the various student activities on campus I would like to meet an experienced student who can show me around and give me some advice

25 Desire to Transfer I have no desire to transfer to another school before finishing a degree at this college or university I plan to transfer to another school before completing a degree at this college or university

26 Importance Ranking Noel Levitz Adult Student Priorities Instructional Effectiveness Academic Advising Registration Effectiveness Campus Climate Service Excellence Admissions and Financial Aid Safety and Security Academic Services

27 Adult Priorities Tuition paid is a worthwhile investment I seldom get the "run-around" when seeking information at this institution There are sufficient options within my program of study Adequate financial aid is available for most adult students I am aware of whom to contact for questions about programs and services

28 Performance Gap Ranking high to low Service Excellence Admissions and Financial Aid Academic Services Academic Advising Registration Effectiveness Campus Climate Instructional Effectiveness Safety and Security

29 What Attracts Adult Learners? Scheduling Delivery Format 48% interested in online 47% in hybrid Preference for accelerated formats

30 What Motivates Adult Learners? 30% improving performance and pay 24% personal interest/enrichment 14% licensing, traditional or certification required

31 What does this mean? Isolated to connected Unaware to informed Passive to active The connected, informed and active consumer expects to interact and cocreate value (Prahalad & Ramaswamy, 2004).

32 What do they Want/Need? Want Respect Considerate/Kind Staff Positive Interaction Concerns Need Answers to questions Competent staff Consistent information Expediency

33 Effective Leadership in Enrollment Management Ability to analyze National Trends Systems Thinker Strategic Change agent Understanding of how to gain credibility and build collaboration Advocate of Technology

34 Rio Salado College One of ten Maricopa Community Colleges Accredited by HLC College Without Walls in 1978 Online Education in 1996 Choice, Access, and Flexibility

35 Who we are 61,000 annual headcount 49,000 credit 12,000 non-credit 31, 000 online learners Partnerships Dual Enrollment ABE/ESL

36 Who we serve 60% female Age: 30 Working Time Strapped Savvy Online Consumer 88% in AZ

37 The performance of a system depends upon the performance of its parts and how each part interacts with the other parts to affect the performance of the whole. From: The Demographic Corporation, Russell Ackoff

38 Rio Salado College Outreach 450 online courses Weekly start dates Never close or cancel a class Portal personalized 86% course completion rate Customer Relationship Management Solution Marketing and Outreach The Rio Advantages Outreach Center

39 Rio Salado College - Finances Provide Federal Financial Aid Low cost payment plan Stager start dates and pay course by course Affordable $71.00 per credit hour $174 out-of-state - online

40 Rio Salado College - Finances Discounts on computers Discounts on Software Text Book Savings Program

41 Rio Salado College Student Support Systems Never close more than two days consecutively 24/7 helpdesk services Expanded evening weekend student services Online chat, phone, , online, fax Advisement and career counseling provide prior to enrollment

42 Rio Salado College - Technology 450 online courses Interactive 17 online degrees Teacher Education Nursing Dental Assisting Post Baccalaureate RioLounge virtual student union

43 RioLounge May 2008 Virtual Student Union Online orientation Success tips articles Social networking Discussion boards Community Events Items for sale Clubs

44 Park University is in the mining business in the space leasing business in the seminar Business But most important- Park is in the Education business

45 Park University Programs Traditional Program since 1875 Kansas City Area, face-to-face, 8 and 16 week terms Extended Program since 1972 At 38 Campus Centers in 22 states, 8 week terms Online Program since 1996 Web based, asynchronous, 8 week terms

46 Traditional Programs Established in 1875 Administrative center located in Parkville, MO Just over 1600 students at Parkville campus Serving the Kansas City metropolitan area Parkville, Downtown, Independence approximately 3500 students

47 Extended Learning Program School for Extended Learning (SEL) established in 1972 Currently serves over 18,000 students at 38 campuses in 22 states Most campuses located at military installations within the U.S. Focus on non-traditional students accelerated programs

48 Online Program Started with one class in 1996 Currently more than 50,000 enrollments annually in 2000 sections of more than 200 courses Reported as 2 nd largest Online enrollments in the US by US News and World Report January 2006 Accredited by North Central Association

49 Capella University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission Offers online learning to enrollees in 50 states and over 50 countries Over 20,000 students enrolled 80% in graduate level studies

50 Capella University Graduate Programs in Business Information Technology Education Human Services Psychology Enrollment Management degree and certificate Noel-Levitz and Capella partnership

51 Capella University Principles of Exemplary Practice Outreach Life and Career Planning Financing Assessment of Learning Outcome Teaching and Learning Outcomes Student Support Systems Technology Strategic Partnerships

52 Questions?? Dr. Barbara Keener Richard Liedtke Kishia Brock

53 Resources Noel Levitz National Adult Student Priorities Report Attitudes of Adult Learners Council for Adult and Experiential Learning American Council on Education Eduventures - Adult Learners and Eduventures Perspective U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics