2019 Annual Conference

Community, Vocational, and Technical Colleges

Shared Concurrent Session (Approx. 12 or 20 minutes)

We report findings from a study of mid-and later-life (MLL) students enrolled in Ohio community colleges. Based on thematic analysis of interviews and focus groups with students, faculty, and staff, we identify multiple dimensions of age that play a meaningful role in shaping MLL students’ community college experiences and outcomes.

The target audience for this presentation includes those interested in gaining a better understanding by mid-and later-life community college students. We provide an in-depth profile of MLL students, including their educational and work trajectories, reasons for enrolling, and experiences in community colleges—that can help colleges better recruit and serve this population. Gaining a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by this age group could help educators design more effective educational programs. This presentation should be of interests to faculty and administrators involved in the instruction of older students and the provision of supportive services to assist older students.

The purpose of the research is to gain an understanding of the experiences of community colleges age 40 and over and to identify malleable factors that could improve student outcomes. As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to identify trends in college enrollment and outcomes for mid-and later-life students. Participants will also gain an understanding of experiences and barriers encountered by community college students age 40 and older that can help colleges better recruit and serve this segment of the adult student population.

Adult students have emerged as a key population of interest within higher education as states and institutions strategize to meet attainment goals. However, much of the previous research on non-traditional age college students has collapsed all students age 25 and older into a single category, glossing over important age and life stage differences. This presentation examines experiences and barriers encountered by mid-and later-life (MLL) students (age 40 and older) attending community colleges. We report qualitative findings from a mixed-methods study of MLL students in Ohio community colleges, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences. Based on thematic analysis of interviews and focus groups with students, faculty, staff, and administrators at 23 colleges, we identify multiple dimensions of age and aging that each play a meaningful role in shaping MLL students’ community college experiences and outcomes. Additionally, we provide an in-depth profile of MLL students—including their educational and work trajectories, reasons for enrolling, and experiences in community colleges—that can help colleges better recruit and serve this segment of the adult student population. MLL students face both unique and common barriers that colleges can address at the classroom, program, and institution levels. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.

A PowerPoint presentation will be provided and there will be opportunities for interaction with the audience throughout the presentation.  Members of the audience involved in instruction of older students will be called upon to provide their views and examples of experiences. In addition, we will seek comments from those in the audience involved in providing supportive services to older students. This will be an opportunity for a sharing of ideas on how best to facilitate positive outcomes through interventions that facilitate success for older students.