The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of older adult students who learn in a community college academic environment. The rationale for the study stemmed from a lack of knowledge regarding this group's experiences. The research question asked in this study was the following: "How do older adult students in a community…

This study explored the mathematical learning experiences of adult students enrolled in a community college developmental mathematics course during the Fall 2023 semester. The study's main objective was to identify the types of experiences that help adult students learn foundational mathematics. Another goal of the study was to provide empirical…

This mixed-methods descriptive study (with a qualifying survey to determine participants' eligibility) was conducted to investigate whether student engagement has an impact on academic performance for undergraduate nontraditional students in a community college environment. The research population was undergraduate nontraditional students who were…

Adult learners in community college encounter barriers in a world that does not recognize their needs. This action research investigation explored the barriers adult learners faced in a community college in California and examined how targeted academic counseling interventions informed the students about essential supports and services available…

This qualitative research is a narrative research study of the experiences of eight post traditional students enrolled in the case study community college. The student participants were invited to be part of this research based on their demographic. Male students over the age of 24, matriculated in a program of study with a minimum of 12 credits…

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to understand and describe the lived experiences of adult English language learners previously enrolled in English as a Second Language Noncredit (ESLN) courses who were persisting in credit coursework through the lens of Bean and Metzner's (1985) nontraditional student attrition model. The…

There are 44 million adults over the age of 24 who hold a high school diploma, and another 35 million adults who have some college credit, but have not earned their college degree. These numbers make adult learners a viable population to attract and matriculate at community colleges. Considering the impact adult learners would have on enrollment…

It has become increasingly difficult for individuals with only a high school diploma to earn a living wage. It is vital for individuals to have more education and training to increase their earnings and be competitive in the marketplace. Adults needing to enhance their skill set or to learn a new skill are enrolling in community colleges, which…

Student combat veterans comprise a unique subpopulation within institutions of higher education. To date, however, most research has been conducted on student veterans, not student combat veterans; and these studies were conducted at four-year institutions with minimal inquiry or analysis performed at the level where the vast majority of veterans…

With an increasing immigrant population in the United States, higher education institutions and community organizations offer a variety of adult English as a second language (ESL) courses. Given that English language learners (ELLs) come from various backgrounds, they face unique challenges. Thus, it is pivotal that adult ESL instructors…

This action research study, informed by qualitative critical bricolage methods explored immigrant-origin adult learners' lived experiences around education. It examined a California community college's practices and campus climate that hinder adult immigrant learners' equitable access to and success in postsecondary education. In an attempt to…