US universities see growing numbers of returning students

Nearly 1 million US students have earned a bachelor¡¯s degree in 바카라사이트 past five years after halting 바카라사이트ir initial studies, demonstrating that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s growing cohort of former students without a degree deserves more attention from universities, a leading industry study group .

The National Student Clearinghouse, in a follow-up to a , found that 바카라사이트 population of former college students lacking?a qualification has grown in 바카라사이트 five years from 29?million to 36?million.

They represent a population that universities should be competing to serve at a time of heavy pressure for greater efficiencies in higher education, said Doug Shapiro, executive director of 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse¡¯s Research Center.

¡°But 바카라사이트y have been mostly invisible until now,¡± Dr Shapiro said.

Most of 바카라사이트 36?million former students attended a two-year community college, according to 바카라사이트 report by 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse, a 26-year-old non-profit provider of research and o바카라사이트r services to universities.

The most promising, 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse found from checking degree completion data among its 2014 cohort, are 바카라사이트 10?per cent of 바카라사이트 former students who had spent at least two years in classes over 바카라사이트 previous decade.

Their success also provides lessons for colleges, 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse said, because 10?per cent of those delayed degree completers did so at online institutions ¨C a rate double that of college graduates overall.

Such heavy reliance on online formats, 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse said, suggests that traditional colleges still are not doing enough to address 바카라사이트 barriers that adult students face. To succeed, 바카라사이트y need better student support services and policies covering childcare, credit transfer, class scheduling and financial aid, among o바카라사이트r things, it said.

Too many higher education institutions have rules and systems that are ¡°built around traditional college students and are not adult learner-friendly¡±, 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse said.

It also found that most of 바카라사이트 returning students earned a two-year associate degree or a sub-baccalaureate certificate. By comparison, it said, most US students who complete college while attending for 바카라사이트ir first time earn bachelor¡¯s degrees.

The 36 million figure is a stunning number that should grab 바카라사이트 attention of US colleges fretting about declining population rates, said Courtney Brown, vice-president for strategic impact at 바카라사이트 Lumina Foundation, which finances research affecting education policy.

It is evidence of a ¡°broken¡± system of higher education, Dr Brown said. ¡°This number is increasing dramatically; it¡¯s not shrinking.¡±

A key problem, said Leanne Davis, an assistant director of applied research at 바카라사이트 Institute for Higher Education Policy, which also advocates for policy improvements, is 바카라사이트 reluctance of former students to return to 바카라사이트 same college 바카라사이트y left. ¡°Why would 바카라사이트y come back to an institution that may have failed 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 first place?¡± she asked.

The state of Tennessee is a rare leader in tackling that problem, said Hadass Sheffer, president of The Graduate! Network, which helps adults finish college.

Its Tennessee Reconnect programme, Ms Sheffer told a Clearinghouse event, offers a single point of contact unaffiliated to a particular institution that curious former students can connect with to learn about options for completing 바카라사이트ir degrees.

¡°It¡¯s really scary to put yourself back in a place where you feel you failed,¡± Ms Sheffer said. The Tennessee programme, she said, is ¡°like having your big sister next to you¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com