About the Episode
About the Episode: In this week’s special episode, we’re bringing you a live discussion our host, Dustin, moderated at the recent Times Higher Education Student Success Summit. The panelists discussed how adult learners are enrolling in higher education in record numbers, and the looming enrollment cliff is predicted to put more pressure on colleges to enroll working learners. Adults often require different kinds and modes of support to succeed, so the group shared ways that institutions can adapt their offerings to serve them better.
Key Takeaways
- Adult Learners Crave Connection and Belonging
- Adult students thrive when they feel part of a supportive community, whether that’s through peer mentoring, success coaching, or cohort models tailored to their needs.
- Building trust and creating spaces where adult learners can share experiences with their peers is essential to their success.
- Holistic and Flexible Support is Essential
- Institutions need to address the external challenges adult learners face, such as housing insecurity, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health. Providing resources for basic needs and offering mental health support tailored to adult students can remove significant barriers to success.
- Prioritize Frictionless Experiences
- To reduce barriers, institutions must simplify processes like enrollment, graduation applications, and academic advising. Remove unnecessary steps, embrace technology like texting and video outreach, and focus on delivering information in a timely, personalized way.
- The Power of Personalized Coaching and Advising
- Success coaches and advisors are key to supporting adult learners. Strategies like mental health first-aid training, providing quick wins during coaching sessions, and helping students balance personal and academic responsibilities can make a huge difference.
- Advising and coaching should also extend beyond academics, helping students navigate life challenges that could derail their progress.
- Innovative Approaches to Programming
- Schools like College Unbound and Utah Tech are leading the way with practices like cohort models, credit for prior learning, and flexible degree pathways (e.g., 90-credit bachelor’s degrees). These programs recognize and honor the unique experiences adult learners bring to the table.
Episode Summary: FAQs Answered
Why are adult learners an important focus for higher education?
Adult learners represent the fastest-growing demographic in higher education. As traditional college-age enrollment declines, institutions must shift their focus to serving this population, which often has complex needs, including balancing work, family, and school.
What challenges do adult learners face, and how can institutions help?
Adult learners often face external challenges like financial insecurity, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health struggles. Institutions can help by offering holistic support, such as:
- Flexible scheduling and online courses.
- Mental health services, including telehealth counseling.
- Streamlined administrative processes to reduce friction.
- Credit for prior learning to accelerate degree completion.
How can institutions foster a sense of belonging for adult learners?
Creating a sense of community is critical for adult learners. Strategies include:
- Cohort-based learning models where students progress through programs together.
- Online platforms like Purdue Global’s “Get Set,” which allow students to connect, ask questions, and share advice.
- Personalized communication, like video messages or texting, to build trust and engagement.
What systemic changes should institutions make to better serve adult learners?
- Credit for Prior Learning: Recognize and reward the work and life experiences adult learners bring to the table.
- Flexible Degree Pathways: Consider options like 90-credit bachelor’s degrees or stackable credentials to make degree completion more accessible.
- Transparent Pricing: Eliminate hidden fees and clearly communicate costs to reduce financial stress.
- Holistic Advising Models: Integrate advising into the academic experience, focusing on both personal and academic challenges.
What tools and technologies can support adult learners?
- Texting Platforms: Texting provides a quick, direct way to connect with students and remind them of important deadlines.
- Telehealth Services: Mental health resources that extend beyond state lines, such as telecounseling, can make a huge difference for online students.
- Video Outreach: Personalized video messages can break down barriers for students hesitant to engage.
- Online Communities: Platforms like Slack or institutional apps can foster peer-to-peer connections and build a sense of community.
What Institutions Can Learn from These Experts
1. Start with “Why”
Institutions looking to serve adult learners must first clarify their motivations. Are you creating programs for the right reasons, with the right resources in place? Authenticity is key to building trust and ensuring long-term success.
2. Prioritize the Student Experience
Adult learners face unique challenges. Whether it’s through simplified processes, access to mental health support, or personalized outreach, institutions should aim to make every interaction with students as frictionless and supportive as possible.
3. Embrace Innovation and Flexibility
Forward-thinking institutions like College Unbound, Purdue Global, and Utah Tech are finding success by challenging long-standing traditions. From flexible degree requirements to credit for prior learning, these changes reflect a deeper understanding of what today’s learners need.
4. Build Community
Whether through physical spaces, cohort models, or digital platforms, creating opportunities for students to connect with peers and mentors fosters belonging and engagement—two critical factors for retention.
Guest Names: Chris Dickson - Assistant Dean for Student Success at College Unbound
Ashley Flood - Manager of Student Success Coaching at Purdue Global
Christopher Guymon - Associate Provost for Academic Programs & Director of Graduate Studies at Utah Tech University
About the Show: The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/
https://twitter.com/HigherEd_Geek
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and I Wanna Work There.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Dustin will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31.
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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