CHARACTERISTICS OF SENIOR CITIZENS’ EDUCATIONAL TUITION WAIVERS IN TWENTY‐ONE STATES: A FOLLOW‐UP STUDY

Abstract

The extent to which senior adults have enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions through the provisions of tuition‐waiver programs is unknown. Many administrators describe the potential impact of the concept of tuition waivers for senior adults as limited, yet few state educational coordinating bodies have collected data to confirm or dispel such an opinion. This study reports the results of a survey of the 27 states identified by Long and Rossing (1979) as having statewide legislation or policies concerning tuition‐waiver programs. Responses were received from 21 states concerning community college programs. Based on the data provided, the following conclusions were drawn: Data on enrollment, academic interest, and academic success are limited. The limited data, however, suggest that the stereotyped arts and crafts orientation is inaccurate; the liberal arts and business courses are more popular. The limited data also indicate that participants in the senior adults’ tuition‐waiver programs perform academically as well and often better than the average student. Tuition‐waiver programs for senior adults are perceived as having great public relations potential. Space‐available requirements for enrollments and lack of state formula‐funding assistance are negative elements that seem to deter institutional officers from placing greater emphasis on the programs. There is no clear picture of admission requirements based on educational or academic qualifications. The role of the institution in providing counseling and health services remains to be developed. The presence of older adults on postsecondary educational institution campuses appears to have a positive benefit.