Maximizing the potential of non-traditional students is a goal of multiple university departments. However, the support offered to these students is usually in isolation of the other teams and without a holistic cross-departmental plan. This interactive session features innovative partnership strategies and will explore creative ways for university faculty and staff to connect with online students using a personalized approach.
The increasing enrollment of non-traditional students continues to shift the landscape of higher education. The enrollment of these students is projected to increase thirteen percent between 2011 and 2021, and twenty-eight percent of higher education students have enrolled in at least one online course. This represents more than 5.8 million students with more than 2.8 million taking classes exclusively online (National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS, 2014).
Non-traditional students have different needs, motivations, and perspectives than traditional, ground campus students. Demands of work and family responsibilities compete with schooling for the students’ time, energy, and resources (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, 2017). Preparing these students for their academic journey and maximizing their potential for achieving success are the goals of multiple university departments such as admissions, advising, academics and career services. However, the support offered to these students is usually in isolation of the other teams and without a holistic cross-departmental plan.
This interactive session features innovative partnership strategies and best practices and will explore creative ways for university faculty and staff to connect with online students using a personalized approach.