engineering degree online : more on the “non-traditional” student

Posted by bposton on October 29th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Here’s some more data for your hungry minds from the report I read from WorldWideLearn.com

This report, called “Adult Learners and New Traditions in Higher Education,”
comes to a conclusion that both online and campus schools have found out that’s it’s good for their bottom line to seek out and cater to nontraditional students.

Many traditional colleges and universities have been trying to meet the needs of the
nontraditional student by providing flexible course schedules, financial aid, online degree programs, and aggressive job placement.

So, just what IS a “non-traidtional student”?

I thought you’d never ask :-)

Here’s the official definition from the National Center for Education Statistics:

A “nontraditional” student is a college student who attend part-time, work at
least 35 hours a week, or are past age 22.

In fact, some of these nontraditional students lack a high school diploma, and many have
little dependents of their own. So it makes sense that six of out ten nontraditional
students attend college part time.

Another interesting number: there are more than 1 million of them, and they’re all
enrolled in degree programs that are completely online.

Here’s what Steven Jones, who is Managing Producer for Worldwidelearn.com had to say in summary:

“Earning a college degree will always be a challenge, regardless of circumstances, but
nontraditional students are confronted with obstacles not faced by an 18-year-old

freshman, Such students need timely, reliable information concerning what college degree

programs are offered, where the schools are located, what services they can depend upon, and whether a campus-based or online degree program is the right solution for them,” Jones continues. “They’re demanding–and getting–everything from campus-based child care to courses on weekends, in the evening, and via distance education.”

Rise up, you non-traditional students! The world is your oyster!

Ben

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