You’ve Got a Friend:
Attracting, Welcoming
and Supporting
the Adult Learner
through Tailored Orientations
MaryAlice Wade, Forsyth Library,
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University
Location: Hays, KS
Total Enrollment: 13, 310
On-Campus: 4, 746
Virtual: 4, 975
At Partner Schools in China: 3, 589
Source: 20th Day Stats, Sept. 17, 2012
26 % of FHSU Students are
age 25 or older
This mirrors
the national
trend of
increasing
numbers of
adult students
enrolling in
college.
Age of FHSU Students
Under 25
26%
25 & older
74%
5,000,000
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
Age 25-29
1970
1980
1990
2000
Age 30-34
2005
2010
Age 35 +
2015 (projected)
2020 (projected)
Fig. : Adult Students Enrolled in Degree-Granting Institutions, by Age, Selected Years 1970-2020
Source: United States, Dept. of Educ., Inst. of Educ. Sciences, Natl. Center for Educ. Statistics; Digest of
Education Statistics 2011; US Dept. of Educ., Sept. 2011; Web; 29 June 2012; table 200.
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d11/tables/dt11_200.asp
Nola Ochs, World’s Oldest
College Graduate
Born: 1911
Graduated H.S.: 1929
Earned Bachelor’s
Degree: 2007, age 95
Earned Master’s Degree:
2011, age 100,
2012: Writing a book,
age 101
FHSU
Nola!
Why hold a special orientation for
Adult Learners?
• Anecdotal evidence of adult learners’ difficulty
using electronic resources, and embarrassment
that the research skills that had served them well
in the past were no longer adequate.
• An orientation held in the evening, tailored for
them, might increase their comfort level and
make the library seem less threatening.
• Library orientations increase library usage
(Andaleeb & Simmonds 633, Walsh 28)
Adding “Extras” for Adults
To address the unique needs of adult learners,
who may be juggling family, work, and school,
we collaborated with other campus entities to
present an all-in-one orientation:
• Kelly Center (Mental Health & Academic
Success)
• Financial Aid
• Student Affairs
• Virtual College
• Admissions
All students age 25 and
older were invited via
e-mail. Online
registration was
encouraged but not
required.
Attendees got T-Shirts &
other goodies provided
by Student Affairs &
Kelly Center
The program:
Held in the evening, in the library, the week
before classes started
Library provided refreshments and demo’d library
resources
Kelly Center staff did a presentation on Study
Skills, Balancing Work & Home Life, Getting
Involved, Procrastination
Videotaped and posted on FHSU web site
Live-streamed so Distance Students could
participate—we actually had more virtual
participants than “live” ones!
Information Provided
• The wide array of student services and how to access them
• Information about Blackboard and the Virtual College
• Campus tours and “class crawls” that help students locate their
classrooms
• Financial Aid
• Study Skills, time management, and self-care
• Technology help and equipment checkout procedures
• Navigating the Library’s web site and accessing Library
Resources both on and off-campus
Adult Learners’ LibGuide
Includes standard
library content, plus
• FHSU Departmental
and Admin contacts
• Services to help them
succeed at FHSU
• Virtual College &
Computer Help
• Orientation Video
http://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/adult_learners
LiveStream: http://livestream.com
Free
version
has ads.
http://bit.ly/RgIqmf
Hardware Used:
Canon HDV Vixia HV40 Digital
Camcorder
connected by Firewire to a PC or
MacBook Pro
Video Shotgun Mic from Rode
Microphones
Tech Tips learned:
• The live streaming of events has been a learning process. The camcorder and
computers use a lot of battery power during recording so we plug them in
during events.
• We also make sure we are prepared with extra batteries for the microphone
and play out a lot of what if scenarios when we pack our gear for a shoot.
• The cords are often a hazard so we use neon duct tape so that they are
brighter and more noticeable to others.
• We’ve put together a live streaming kit that includes the camcorder and
cords, the computer and power source, firewire cable and adapters if needed,
extra DV tapes and batteries for the microphone. We also carry our own
power strip in case one is not available at the event location.
~Dr. Cynthia Garrety, FHSU Coordinator of the Learning Commons
cmgarrety@fhsu.edu
Plans for next year
• Working on ideas to make it more interactive, less of a
lecture format
• Perhaps have a current or former adult learner speak
about their experiences, and give advice
References & Image Sources
Andaleeb, Syed S., and Patience L. Simmonds. “Usage of Academic Libraries:
The Role of Service Quality, Resources, and User Characteristics.” Library
Trends 49.4 (2001): 626. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 June 2012.
Knife-juggling woman image: Collection of Art References blog:
http://collectionofartreferences.tumblr.com/post/14390145759/cool
Images of FHSU and Nola Ochs: www.fhsu.edu
Nola LOL: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/119432
LibGuides: http://springshare.com/libguides
Created by MaryAlice Wade, Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University
October, 2012 mawade2@fhsu.edu