Nontraditional Students Research Articles

Community college library service to early college high school students

This study examined the services provided by community college libraries and librarians to Early College High School (ECHS) students on their campuses. Based on focus group interviews with librarians at four community colleges that serve ECHS students, the researcher then surveyed community college librarians across the state of North Carolina to determine the services and resources provided to these nontraditional students. The results of this study provide information on both the services currently being provided and the barriers to those services. The results of this study could be used in designing librarian preparation programs which will better serve academic librarians serving in libraries with growing high school student populations. Furthermore, this study highlights the need for targeted professional training to better support librarians as their campuses continue to serve ECHS students.

How to Get a Job Offer from a Smaller Joint Teaching‐Research Mission University and What to Do Once You Have It

How to Get a Job Offer from a Smaller Joint Teaching‐Research Mission University and What to Do Once You Have It

The added value of free preparatory activities for widening access to medical education: a multi-cohort study

BackgroundMedical schools are reported to be less accessible to students with non-traditional backgrounds. These students face barriers when applying for and transitioning to medical school, which may be reduced by offering free preparatory activities. By equalizing access to resources, these activities are expected to reduce disparities in selection outcomes and early academic performance. In the present study, four free institutionally-provided preparatory activities were evaluated by comparing the demographic composition of participating and non-participating applicants. Additionally, the association between participation and selection outcomes and early academic performance was investigated for subgroups (based on sex, migration background and parental education).MethodsParticipants were applicants to a Dutch medical school in 2016-2019 (N = 3592). Free preparatory activities included Summer School (N = 595), Coaching Day (N = 1794), Pre-Academic Program (N = 217), and Junior Med School (N = 81), supplemented with data on participation in commercial coaching (N = 65). Demographic compositions of participants and non-participants were compared using chi-squared tests. Regression analyses were performed to compare selection outcomes (curriculum vitae [CV], selection test score, probability of enrolment) and early academic performance (first-course grade) between participants and non-participants of demographic subgroups, controlling for pre-university grades and participation in other activities.ResultsGenerally, no differences in sociodemographic compositions of participants and non-participants were found, but males participated less often in Summer School and Coaching Day. Applicants with a non-Western background participated less often in commercial coaching, but the overall participation rate was low and participation had negligible effects on selection outcomes. Participation in Summer School and Coaching Day were stronger related with selection outcomes. In some cases, this association was even stronger for males and candidates with a migration background. After controlling for pre-university grades, none of the preparatory activities were positively associated with early academic performance.ConclusionsFree institutionally-provided preparatory activities may contribute to student diversity in medical education, because usage was similar across sociodemographic subgroups, and participation was positively associated with selection outcomes of underrepresented and non-traditional students. However, since participation was not associated with early academic performance, adjustments to activities and/or curricula are needed to ensure inclusion and retention after selection.

Comparison of Flex vs. residential clinical education program outcomes: physical therapy students’ self-efficacy, confidence, and clinical competence

Purpose: Alternative flexible (Flex) path Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs may have an emerging footprint. The differences between Flex and traditional residential DPT program clinical experience outcomes remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Flex and residential DPT students’ clinical reasoning self-efficacy, confidence with treating, and Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) clinical reasoning and summative scores during clinical experiences. Methods: A descriptive and exploratory cross-sectional survey was used with a voluntary convenience sample of 211 university DPT students during Fall 2020 full-time clinical experiences. Descriptive and inferential statistics evaluated differences in Flex and residential DPT program students’ (1) Physical Therapist Self-Efficacy (PTSE) scale scores, (2) confidence with treating initial and subsequent same-patient visits, and (3) final CPI clinical reasoning and summative scores during clinical experiences. Results: Mean PTSE scores were significantly lower for Flex (x̄ = 14.2) compared to residential DPT students (x̄ = 15.2) (P < 0.05). No significant student differences were found in (1) Flex (x̄ = 2.1) and residential (x̄ = 2.2) confidence with treating at the initial visit (P = 0.59), (2) Flex (x̄ = 2.8) and residential (x̄ = 3.0) confidence with treating subsequent same-patient visits (P = 0.15), and (3) Flex (x̄ = 15.8) and residential (x̄ = 16.5) CPI clinical reasoning (P = 0.17), and (4) Flex (x̄ = 16.1) and residential (x̄ = 16.7) CPI summative scores (P = 0.21). Conclusion: Clinical reasoning self-efficacy among Flex DPT students was lower, but there was no difference in CPI clinical reasoning or summative results between Flex and residential DPT students. In the university investigated, the Flex distance learning DPT program curriculum appeared effective in preparing students’ clinical reasoning readiness for the available full-time clinical experiences. We recommend academic institutions consider expanding Flex entry-level DPT program availability options because the outcomes were comparable. Additional flex entry programs may help address the underrepresentation of nontraditional students in entry-level DPT programs and societal demands for physical therapy services.

FLUENCY, COHERENCE, COHESION AS ESSENTIAL ASPECTS IN DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILLS IN IELTS PREPARATION

In modern society professionally oriented foreign language education provides the professional competence and gives a young person the chance for a better opportunity in career self-realization. Such demand of a specialist in a certain sphere with the knowledge of foreign language is dictated by the economic and social necessities. “Economic shifts, labor market changes, changes in the ways people choose to learn, and a rise in non-traditional students are just some of the market trends influencing the future of higher education” [1]. So, university education tries hard to develop foreign language proficiency for its students.

Contributing Factors for Success of Nontraditional Students at Online Doctoral Programs

Online education has become an integral part of higher education with the ever-increasing demand for online doctoral programs. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to explore the nature of student success and contributing factors to improving student success for nontraditional students in an online doctoral program. Relationships between students’ grittiness, Big Five personality traits, and their success were explored. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 136 doctoral alumni, faculty, and administrators. The findings indicated nature of student success is defined by the completion of a degree and professional advancement by enhancement of personal and program qualities, relationship with faculty, soft, technical, social skills, and social support. Students’ grittiness, but not their personality traits, was correlated with the length of completing their studies. A student success model was developed with student grit, program-student goal alignment, and a supportive program structure. The findings help to improve doctoral programs and student success.

The role of locus of control in mediating the relationship between nontraditional factors and academic entitlement

The current study further explored the relationship between nontraditional students and academic entitlement. Previous research has established that the presence of more nontraditional factors predicts lower levels of reported academic entitlement. The mechanisms responsible for this connection have not been explored though. The current study examined the impact of locus of control on the relationship between nontraditional factors and academic entitlement. Participants ( N = 332) were asked to report their status on seven nontraditional factors and then completed measures exploring locus of control, academic entitlement, work engagement, and academic motivation. Analyses revealed that nontraditional factors predicted lower levels of external locus of control and external locus of control was negatively correlated with academic entitlement. Evidence for partial mediation was found for this relationship. The impact of these findings on nontraditional students, retention, and academic interventions is discussed.

Non-traditional students’ preferences for learning technologies and impacts on academic self-efficacy

Blended Learning (BL) as a pedagogical approach has increased in significance during the COVID-19 pandemic, with blended and online learning environments becoming the new digital norm for higher educational institutions around the globe. While BL has been discussed in the literature for thirty years, a common approach has been to categorise learner cohorts to support educators in better understanding students’ relationships with learning technologies. This approach, largely unsupported by empirical evidence, has failed to adequately address the challenges of integrating learning technologies to fit with non-traditional students’ preferences, their BL self-efficacy and the associated pedagogical implications. Focusing on student preference, our study presents findings from a pre-COVID survey of undergraduate students across four campuses of an Australian regional university where students shared their learning technology preferences and the self-regulated learning that influenced their academic self-efficacy in a BL context. Findings show students want consistency, relevance, and effectiveness with the use of BL tools, with a preference for lecture recordings and video resources to support their learning, while email and Facebook Messenger were preferred for communicating with peers and academic staff. Our study suggests a quality BL environment facilitates self-regulated learning using fit-for-purpose technological applications. Academic self-efficacy for BL can increase when students perceive the educational technologies used by their institution are sufficient for their learning needs.

Physical home-learning environments of traditional and non-traditional students during the COVID pandemic: exploring the impact of learning space on students’ motivation, stress and well-being

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions to implement their programs in an online setting, different groups of students were influenced to different extents. In many cases, the main locus of learning moved to students' homes, and their learning experiences were suddenly contextualized in their residential situation and immediate physical learning environment. The present study consequently examines the role of physical learning environments on different factors influencing students’ learning when pursuing their study from at home. It contrasts the situation of traditional students in a higher education institution and non-traditional students in an academic continuing education institution, which address target groups with different living conditions and needs in learning support. Data were collected via an online survey sent to students enrolled in these two institutions, with a total of 353 students participating during a timeframe impacted by COVID-related lockdowns. We found that stress and well-being is strongly linked to the quality of the surrounding environment of the learning place, whereas perceived motivation is more strongly related to the quality of the learning place itself. How strongly students are affected by these factors is moderated by their overall socio-spatial context. Academic continuing education students are more resilient to sub-optimal physical learning environment than traditional students. Altering the design of the immediate learning environment consequently can help to mitigate factors that negatively impact students’ well-being and learning motivation, which is particularly important for traditional students, who primarily dedicate their time to pursuing their studies.

The good, the bad, the ugly: Predictors of positive and negative experiences of traditional and nontraditional graduate students

Nontraditional students pursuing an advanced degree face unique challenges as compared to full-time traditional students. Current and former masters and PhD students ( N = 266) were surveyed to examine differences in their educational experiences and emotional outcomes, and determinants of their positive and negative graduate education experiences. Traditional and nontraditional students differed significantly on most of the variables. Compared to traditional students, nontraditional students reported higher positive emotional experiences. Simple linear ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were used to examine the determinants of positive and negative experiences during graduate education. Self-fulfillment motives were the strongest predictors of positive emotional experiences, while stress and anxiety uniformly predicted negative experiences; with variability in determinants of emotional experiences between traditional and nontraditional students.

‘Looking forward’: non-traditional students perceptions of their readiness and preparedness for the transition to work after graduation

ABSTRACT This study explores how Higher Education students from non-traditional backgrounds perceive their readiness and preparedness to make the transition from university to work, after graduation. Thirteen students participated and each underwent a semi-structured interview exploring perceptions of their upcoming transition. Findings indicate that participants have mixed views about their readiness for work, with some expressing anxiety surrounding their future progression. Despite this, participants were positive about their preparedness for industry roles, highlighting elements of the practical and theoretical content of their courses as effective preparation for work. Furthermore, it was apparent that the participants’ non-traditional backgrounds influenced HE experiences and informed perceptions of readiness and preparedness for transition to work. The guidelines provided will help inform institutions on inherent challenges supporting students who are from non-traditional backgrounds.

Creating Pathways for Nontraditional Graduate Students

As past and present nontraditional students, our group of authors experienced firsthand a range of hurdles in our pursuit of ocean science graduate studies. Some of us attended graduate school while working full time in our fields as a means to advance our careers. Others returned to graduate school to pursue a second career in a new field. Combining our experiences with broader demographic information (Wendler et al., 2010) led us to define nontraditional ocean science graduate students as any of the following: mid-career professionals pursuing graduate degrees for career advancement and those who are embarking on a second career, hold an undergraduate degree outside of STEM, are in their thirties or older, or are balancing school with work and/or family responsibilities. While we highlight these characteristics, we recognize that there are others who self-identify as nontraditional, such as those facing a serious medical condition or disability. We hope that by sharing ways to remove barriers to entry, retention, and advancement for nontraditional students, our field will become more inclusive, equitable, and diverse.

Effect of blended self-directed learning on nursing students: Quasi-experimental approach.

Higher education institutions are adapting and innovating like never before to provide highly individualized learning environments for both traditional and non-traditional students. This seismic upheaval in the higher education landscape is being observed across the world. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a blended learning approach on nursing students' self-directed learning readiness. This study is a quasi-experimental approach in which a non-equivalent control group was used in a post-test design. A comparison was carried out with two separate semester cohort students representing the control and intervention groups which had 24 and 30 students, respectively. This study included first-year nursing students that enrolled in a course called "Anatomy and Physiology" course of nursing education at a private university. The control group received all their teaching face-to-face, and the intervention group used information technology and prescribed activities in their online e-book. The self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) tool measures the learners' readiness in self-directed learning in both groups. This scale comprises three subscales which are "self-management," "desire for learning," and "self-control." An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare self-directed learning readiness in the control and intervention groups. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 software to measure the independent t-test. The self-directed readiness scores were significantly higher in the intervention group with P = 0.019. The intervention group showed a higher mean value on the subscales of self-management and self-control, which demonstrated a significant difference with P values of 0.018 and 0.028, respectively. The subscale desire for learning was insignificant with a P value of 0.166. This study concluded that the overall results demonstrate that incorporating blended learning using e-books for anatomy and physiology courses in nursing education can contribute to students' readiness for self-directed learning. Specifically, the blended learning teaching and learning strategy had a positive impact on nursing students' capacity for self-management and self-control.

Predicting military-connected students' academic success at community college

Federal GI Bills and funding have allowed military service members to attend institutions of higher learning since 1944. However, military-connected students tend to have lower graduation rates than other similarly situated nontraditional students despite this support. This study used secondary data from an associate-degree granting community college in New England that tracked degree completion rates for military-connected students to examine whether factors such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, or funding source could predict student success. No significant predictors were found. Future research ideas, such as quantitative studies using data from other colleges or universities or adding additional factors, were recommended. A policy paper was an outcome of the study.

Žene kao netradicionalni studenti u visokom obrazovanju u Nemačkoj i u Indiji

Over the past decades, the number of non-traditional students attending higher education has grown worldwide. Governments and institutions encourage underrepresented students to enroll, often with two main goals: to boost national economic competitiveness and to enhance social inclusion in higher education for traditionally excluded groups, like older students. There is neither a policy nor academic consensus on what constitutes a mature student (O'Shea & Stone, 2011). In this study, we define mature women students as being 21 years or older when starting a bachelor's degree. The analysis of seven interviews conducted in Germany and India compares their sociodemographic profiles, their motivation for university study, the barriers they had to overcome, and the mechanisms of support they could count on, following the comparative method developed by Egetenmeyer (2012). The results show how structural conditions can facilitate or hinder mature women's access to and persistence in higher education.

Academic Persistence Among Traditional and Non-Traditional Social Work Students at Fort Hays State University: A Bivariate Analysis

Although the Social Work program is one of the fastest growing programs at Fort Hays State University (FHSU), the faculty is focused on retention. According to Gloria and Kurpius (1996), evaluating the university environment appears to be a major factor in accounting for students’ persistence in higher education. This is particularly important for nontraditional students who often drop out of academic programs prior to degree completion (Miller, 2014) and have lower completion rates than their traditional counterparts (Shapiro, et. al., 2012). This study explored whether a significant difference exists in the way traditional and nontraditional social work students perceive the university environment.

Unexpected Transitions: From Lifeboats to Online Learning

At the height of the pandemic, schools across the country shut down, shifting classrooms to a remote learning modality. While the use of emergency remote teaching (ERT) provided an alternative for schools, it was a difficult transition. Online learning is often compared with ERT, although the two are different. Where ERT is a quick and temporary resolution, online learning is a long-term investment developed to provide a quality educational experience for students. Both are necessary lifelines to learning, but online education is vital in multiple ways. Rather than a substitute, it is a core fixture on the higher ed landscape, with more and more students, faculty, and administrators recognizing online education's benefits. This essay explores remote and online learning as lifelines in different contexts. It reflects on the impact of online learning from three views: a personal account, growing demands for contingent faculty, and the diverse needs of non-traditional students.

Trust the Process

What are the benefits or drawbacks of a low-residency educational delivery model? How does the process of designing one's own study impact the work completed in a distance education program with this form of delivery? As researchers who found success in a low-residency undergraduate program, we engaged in a duoethnographic study to mine our experiences and better understand the advantages and disadvantages of this educational model. We engaged in four recorded conversations over the course of three weeks, with sessions ranging from 35 to 60 minutes each. Between sessions, we journaled in a shared online document, discussing our emerging understandings of the topic, responding to each other's perspectives, and pushing one another to articulate and revisit our stances. Through these oral and written dialogues, we identified six themes featured in the low-residency educational model: reduced stigma for non-traditional students, diversity of community, flexibility, self-designed study, staying connected, and clarity of boundaries.
 Keywords: low-residency, distance education, duoethnography, self-designed learning, non-traditional students

Role of community colleges and other TVET institutions in advancing sustainable development by supporting access, diversity, and inclusion for nontraditional student populations

ABSTRACT The Sustainable Development Goals link access to higher education, particularly for non-traditional populations, as a way to fight poverty and ensure prosperity. This article examines the experiences of several under-researched categories of non-traditional students who attend Community Colleges and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in multiple jurisdictions worldwide. The article begins to fill in the gap with comparative data on how these institutions advance equity, diversity, and inclusion through access to higher education. The implications of Community Colleges and TVET are analyzed using the lens of Neo-Liberalism and the Capabilities Narrative. The study extends the scope of the inquiry into the contributions these institutions make to sustainable development. The article uses a comparative multi-case study approach to examine the Community Colleges and TVET Colleges in different jurisdictions worldwide.

Using Support Networks as a Predictor of Success for STEM Degrees: Preliminary Results Detailing a Selection Process for Test Subjects Engaged in a Longitudinal Study of Low Socio-Economic Status American Undergraduate Students

This study follows the selection process for participants in a National Science Foundation S-STEM grant program for low socio-economic students. State land grant institution were created to provide states with technical universities for mid- to lower-class citizens, but they have generally failed to deliver successful instruction to residential, low-socioeconomic status, underrepresented minority students. There is a need for more research on additional predictors to assess the potential of non-traditional students in the admissions process. The primary research question in this work is whether students from low-SES backgrounds possessing lower incoming metrics can still have success earning a STEM degree with the help of a web of support adults. This metrics-based selection process was generated from a five-year study of underrepresented minority (URM) students who had previously succeeded in earning an engineering degree, even though they were not originally admitted into engineering. The selection process also asked students to identify the members of their support network, how they used this support to succeed in life, and culminated in an on-campus interview. The high school metrics for these students were found to be significantly lower than their engineering peers, but the average number of anchor/mentors that were identified was 6.2. These 21 students are currently performing well and will be compared against other residential students for retention, performance, and graduation through their time at the institution.