The Unique Needs of the Nontraditional Transfer Student

Transcription

1 The Unique Needs of the Nontraditional Transfer Student Kate Colberg Heather L. Howard Admissions Advisors Empire State College (State University of New York)

2 SUNY Empire State College Created by the SUNY chancellor in 1971, it was designed to remove many of the impediments nontraditional students faced at other colleges Associate, Bachelor s, and Master s degree programs 35 physical locations across NYS and an online division Custom designed degree programs 5 different ways to take courses (which all keep in-seat time to a minimum) ALL credit earned from other colleges is considered, no matter how long ago One of the first institutions in the US to offer Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) opportunities where students could earn credit for knowledge gained through work or life experiences

3 Agenda What is a nontraditional student? Why talk about nontraditional students? What are the barriers nontraditional students are facing when pursuing their college education? What can we do as higher education professionals to help nontraditional students be successful?

4 The Stereotypical College Student The term college student naturally leads one to envision a more traditional college student: years old Financially dependent on their parents/guardians Attending college full-time Living on campus A traditional student is unlikely to be balancing multiple life roles and are able to focus on their main responsibility of being a student

5 The Facts The reality is that the traditional year old student is rapidly becoming the minority in higher education and may only represent 15% of current undergraduates ( According to the US Department of Education: about 40% of all college students are older than 25 Between 2000 and 2011, per the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the enrollment of students 25 and over rose 41 percent (NCES, From 2011 to 2021, NCES projects a rise of 14 percent in enrollments of students 25 and over

6 So What Is A Nontraditional Student? The term has increased in popularity and usage in recent years, yet there is a lack of a precise or consistent definition. According to a 2002 NCES report, frequently cited in discussions involving nontraditional students, a student is considered nontraditional if one of the following characteristics is present: Has delayed enrollment in postsecondary education beyond the first year after high school graduation;ÿ Attends part time; Is financially independent from his or her parents; Works full time;ÿ Has dependents other than a spouse; Is a single parent; or Has no high school diploma or GED test credential.

7 The bottom line The label nontraditional includes a wide range and variety of distinct populations, each of which have their own unique challenges, barriers, and/or obstacles when it comes to completing their education. The bottom line is that usually a nontraditional student is one who assumes multiple roles in their life, all of which vie for their limited time and energy.

8 Why Talk About It? Nontraditional students are still very much a marginalized, underserved population. The number of nontraditional students on college campuses are increasing, yet higher education still appears to be failing to adapt their processes and structures to meet their needs. There still seems to be an expectation that nontraditional students should adapt to an environment that mainly supports not only a more traditional student, but a more traditional education.

9 Barriers to Participation in Learning Cross s (1981) classification of barriers to participation in learning activities is often cited in the literature for nontraditional students and provides a strong framework for categorizing barriers 1. Situational 2. Institutional 3. Dispositional

10 Situational Barriers Conditions at a given time that limit the student s ability to access and pursue higher education Employment schedule Family obligations Lack of child care Lack of transportation Financial strains

11 Institutional Barriers Practices and procedures which may discourage or exclude students from pursuing postsecondary education Inflexible schedules Lack of alternative office hours Majors that lack relevance Restrictive transfer credit policies Little or no help with selecting the right major/concentration

12 Dispositional Barriers Student perceptions of their ability to access and complete learning activities Lack of self confidence Anxiety/fear about learning abilities Negative past experiences with college Fear of failure

13 SUNY Empire State College Breaking down these barriers are second nature at SUNY Empire Study options- flexibility Transfer friendly- transfer 40 credits/ 93 credits toward degree Mentors- Ph.D. faculty act as guide, cheerleader, advisor; working 1-1 Prior Learning Assessment- Life Experience - licenses/certificates, training, military experience, exams, portfolio process Customized degree programs

14 Situational Barriers- What can we do? Conditions at a given time that limit the student s ability to access and pursue higher education Employment schedule- courses outside the 9:00-5:00 schedule Family obligations- flexibility in scheduling Lack of child care- offer childcare onsite Lack of transportation- locations on the bus line, subway or train line Financial strains- scholarships earmarked for non-traditional students

15 Institutional Barriers- What can we do? Practices and procedures which may discourage or exclude students from pursuing postsecondary education Inflexible schedules- offer courses evenings, weekends, online Lack of alternative office hours- faculty and administrative Majors that lack relevance- curriculum development Restrictive transfer credit policies- transfer friendly Little help with selecting the right major- advisement & career services

16 Dispositional Barriers- What can we do? Student perceptions of their ability to access and complete learning activities Lack of self confidence Anxiety/fear about learning abilities Negative past experiences with college Fear of failure

17 THANK YOU!!!!!!!