Going Back to
School
Providing the Financial Aid
and Counseling Your Adult
Students Need to be
Successful
Presenters
Traci Nichols
Montcalm Community College
and
Juliann Murphy
West Shore Community College
Campus Demographics
• 37% of the 17.9
million students
enrolled in U.S.
colleges and
universities in
2008 were over
age 25
37.00%
37
100
Projected Increases
• This 37% is expected to
increase by 20% over the
next 5-10 years nationwide
Agenda
• Why are adults returning to school?
• Characteristics of adult students
• How they impact our schools
• Two school’s approach to meeting
the needs of adult students
• Open discussion
Changing Workforce
• Exporting of service and high tech
jobs
– 850,000 professional service and
information sector jobs (AFL-CIO)
– One service sector hit hard by job
losses in information technology
– Forrester Research Inc. predicts U.S.
employers will move 3.4 million whitecollar jobs and $136 billion in wages
overseas by 2015
Changing Workforce
• Two industry sectors expected to
have the largest projected
increases through 2018
– Professional and business services
(4.2 million)
– Health care and social assistance
(4.0 million)
– Bureau of Labor Statics
Additional Education
Will Be Needed
• Occupations that usually require a
post secondary degree or
certificate are expected to account
for nearly half of all new jobs from
2008 to 2018 and one-third of total
job openings
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why Adults Are
Returning to
School?
Loss of Employment
• 14.6 million unemployed people9.5%
• 125,000 jobs lost in June 2010
• Resulting in double-digit
enrollment increases at community
colleges and other schools
Changing Workforce
• Manufacturing decline
– 2.5 million manufacturing jobs have
disappeared since 2001 (AFL-CIO)
Other Reasons Adults
Return to School
• New career
• Career change
• Career advancement or
requirement
• Major life event
• Higher income
• Personal enrichment
Characteristics of
Adult Students
Who Are They?
• Adult students
• Re-entry students
• Returning students
• Adult learners
• Non-traditional students
What Makes a Student
Non-traditional?
• Delays enrollment after high school
graduation
• Attends college part-time
• Works full-time
• Is financially independent
• Has children or other dependents
• Is a single parent
• Has a GED
• National Center For Education Statistics
What Adults Bring to
Your Campus
• Work and life experiences
• Family commitments
• Debt obligations
• Time constraints
• Wisdom and maturity
• Organization
• Self-motivation and determination
Barriers That Differ
• Finding time
– Struggle to balance between school,
work, and family commitments
• Finding money
– Some adults have mortgages, car
loans, and student loans
Money Barriers
• 25- to 30-year-olds are the highest
defaulters, followed by 31- to 34year-olds
– Loss of Title IV eligibility
• About 43% of American families
spend more than they earn each
year
• Average household has over
$8,000 in credit card debt
• Bankrate.com
What Adults Are
Looking For
• Credit for work/life experiences
• Accelerated programs
• Flexibility
• Several learning options
• Financial assistance
How They Impact
Schools
Impact to Schools
• Class schedules, degree
requirements, financial aid,
resources, and support tailored
to adult students in order for
them to succeed
–
–
–
–
Distance learning
Online courses
Night classes
Onsite child care
Who is Montcalm
Community College?
• West-Central Michigan’s
preeminent provider of and
preferred choice for education,
training, and life-long learning
• Established in 1965
• Offers one year certificates and two
year associates, including transfer
programs
Who are the students at
MCC?
• In 2010-2011, MCC educated over
3000 students, with 2297 of them
being enrolled in less than 12
credits
• Students over age 25:
– Male: 458
– Female: 1030
How does MCC help
these adult students?
• Offer a variety of times for classes
– Including Saturday and Sunday
• Offer different ways to take classes
– On line
– In person
– Hybrid
• Offer different places to take
classes
Challenges For MCC
• Many business closings- Frigidaire
• High gas prices
• No dorms
• Poor economy
• Michigan State law changes
• Lower enrollment
West Shore
Community
College
Scottville, Michigan
Who We Are?
• One of the smallest community
colleges in MI
• Record enrollment this Fall with
1617 students!
• 261 were dual enrolled
Who We Are?
• In a rural area on the west coast
• Closest 4 year institution is more
than 60 miles away
• Closest 2 year institution is more
than 60 miles away
Who Are Our Students?
• 56% are part-time
• 61% are female
• Average age is 28
Who Are Our FA Students?
• 1,695 FAFSAs, YTD 11-12
• 55% enrolled have a $0 EFC
• 80% are Pell-eligible
Who Are Our FA Students?
• 61% are independent
• 55% are first generation
• 214 self-identified as a
dislocated worker
What Non-Traditional
Students Worry About?
• Can they get a loan?
• Will they be able to pay the loan
back?
• They need a job, not a degree
What Non-Traditional
Students Worry About?
• Are they too old to learn?
• Will they be the oldest in
the class?
How We Help?
• Professional Judgment for income
adjustment appeals
• Mi-Works partnership
• Make a personal connection with
the student
Your Challenge
What will you do?