2019 Annual Conference

Undergraduate Student Education

Shared Concurrent Session (Approx. 12 or 20 minutes)

The Office of Adult Learning and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Wichita State University work together to ensure the best experience possible for adult learners. Using the Transtheoretical Model, the offices determine where a student is in the process to not only recruit, but to also retain adult learners.

Colleges or universities who cater to, or have an adult student population, may benefit from a collaboration which would help identify, using the Transtheoretical Model, where adult learners are in the process of earning a degree. Some adult learners may get frustrated in the process of trying to navigate the world of academia and thus, may not begin the process, or may not complete a degree. The ultimate goal of the collaborative effort is to recruit adult learners and also assist them with the ultimate goal of graduating from a four-year university

Participants of this session will take away lessons learned from a four and a half-year collaborative effort between the Office of Adult Learning and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Wichita State University. Observers will understand the importance and benefits of collaboration in recruiting and retaining adult learners. Audience members will be able to identify resources enabling them to establish a similar collaboration at their college or university. The Transtheoretical Model will also be introduced and explained as to how it applies to adult learners from the recruitment stage all the way through graduation.

A unique collaborative effort exists at Wichita State University to effectively recruit and retain adult learners. The collaboration between the Office of Adult Learning and the Office of Admissions works in tandem to provide the best experience for students 24 years of age and older. Applying the Transtheoretical Model or the Stages of Change theory, a health behavior change model, both offices work with adult learners and establish where they are in the six stages of the cycle, thus determining how to best empower them. Admissions most often, meets potential students in one of the first three stages: Precontemplation, Contemplation, or Preparation (Determination). Adult Learning, therefore, is more likely to encounter or work with adult learners in the final three stages of Action, Relapse, and Maintenance. While most of the time, both offices work within their respective stages of the cycle, occasionally either office will work with students to meet them where they are. Applying this model, the two offices share resources to not only attend, but also create events and promotional materials specifically for adult learners. Applying the Transtheoretical Model and collaborating whenever possible, both offices take responsibility for the recruiting and retention of adult learner.

This session will consist of a PowerPoint presentation. The format will be similar to a classroom setting in that information will be given about the Transtheoretical Model and the collaborative effort where participants will be encouraged to ask questions at any point during the presentation. Slides and handouts will be given to participants and although it is a formal presentation, the format will be a conversation between the audience and the presenters.