Adult students represent one of the fastest growing student populations within higher education. While their educational goals are similar to traditional students, the challenges and barriers they may encounter differ. Higher education institutions must assess their support services, coursework, and resources to determine if they meet the needs of…

The problem at the southeastern university study site is that adult nontraditional learners taking classes on campus are graduating at a low rate, which may indicate a lack of needed support services. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the learning support needs of adult nontraditional learners and institutional support…

Adult and nontraditional learners are a fast growing student populations in higher education (Wyatt, 2011) and currently make up approximately 37% of undergraduates currently enrolled in higher education in the United States (Bergman, 2020). Despite their prevalence, empirical studies continue to demonstrate that policies, programs, and practices…

Pursuing postsecondary education is complicated for adult learners with children, also known as parenting adult learners (PALs). PALs must consider family expenses in addition to college expenses and make tough decisions about how to spend their time across their academic, work, and family responsibilities. Nonetheless, PALs are highly motivated,…

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of women student veterans and the role of self-efficacy in their utilization of campus support services. The theory guiding this study was Bandura's self-efficacy theory as it relates to the influences of the utilization of campus support by women student…

This study used responses from 17,354 student veterans on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) to investigate the relationship between student engagement and likelihood of withdrawal. Student veterans who utilized campus services more often, and those who perceived campus services as important, reported a higher likelihood of…

Student veterans may encounter educational barriers that can impact transitions to college. This research focused on veteran transitions to college during onboarding. Onboarding is beneficial in a higher education setting and, when properly deployed, can help ease transitions. This study involved the development, implementation, and assessment of…

This report examines: (1) the extent to which veterans pursue STEM degrees using Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits; (2) challenges these veterans face in obtaining a STEM degree; and (3) how VA administers the Rogers STEM scholarship. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyzed VA administrative data and interviewed officials…

In a 2023 report by the National Student Clearinghouse, the "some college, no credential" population stood at 40.4 million in 2021, up 3.6 percent from a year earlier. Of this population, more than half (21 million, 52%) were 25 or older at the time of their last enrollment. One solution to this reality is to reengage this population and…

The purpose of this study was to explore and hear the student military veterans' perceptions on what they felt was instrumental to their success in higher education. Previous studies investigated veterans' experiences but very little investigated what SMVs found helpful during their collegiate experience. This mixed methods research employed a…

The purpose of this mixed-method pragmatic study was twofold: to identify the necessary classroom and campus supports student veterans require to create a veteran-inclusive environment. Additionally, the study investigated whether those supports differ for male and female student veterans. The United States has been at war for twenty years in…

This research addresses the intersection of a unique student cohort, UK mature students studying creative arts subjects at higher education undergraduate level, focusing on career drivers and influences and using McMahon and Patton's Systems Theory Framework of Career Development (2022). The findings suggest that these students face similar…

Online modes of study are increasingly prevalent in higher education, including university-enabling programs. As student cohorts diversify, access to individualised and holistic support strategies is increasingly important for students to expeditiously transition into higher education. On-campus provision of academic advising, while an effective…

This study focused on the problem that students attending on-ground programs retain significantly higher than students in online programs. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine what difference, if any, existed in the grades and persistence of adult online students who used student support services and those who…

This study aimed to examine the relationship between student engagement and student retention of adult learners at community colleges. The relationship between student retention and the five Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) student engagement benchmarks (active and collaborative learning, student effort, academic challenge,…