Edufacts™
September 2007
Typical college undergraduate is now considered nontraditional student
Joe Porter graduated from high school 20 years ago and promptly enrolled in community college. But he dropped out following his mother's death and had to go to work. Two decades later, he enrolled at Texas State University-San Marcos when an aunt and uncle offered to pay for his freshman year.
A generation ago, Porter's story would have been unusual. But today, the typical undergraduate is no longer a full-time student in the late teens, freshly out of high school, and living on campus. In 1999-2000, three-quarters of all undergraduate students had at least one of the seven characteristics of a "nontraditional" student, according to the study Special Analysis 2002 - Nontraditional Undergraduates from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
NCES defines a nontraditional student as someone with one or a combination of the following characteristics:
- Delays enrollment after high school graduation
- Attends college part time,
- Works full time,
- Is financially independent,
- Has children or other dependents,
- Is a single parent, and/or
- Has a GED.
Although their numbers are growing steadily, nontraditional students face formidable challenges to attaining a college degree, especially in a higher education system geared to still accommodate the "traditional" student. Class schedules, degree requirements, and financial aid all can seem to work against the nontraditional student.
Joe Porter learned this quickly. He discovered that going back to college was a difficult transition to make — academically, socially, and financially.
"My first year, I failed algebra, and I didn't talk to hardly anyone. It was a huge drain emotionally," he said.
Adding to the academic and social challenges, finding a way to attend and pay for college can be especially daunting for those who also may be raising a family and paying household expenses, such as a mortgage and health insurance. A student working to pay for family expenses often does not have anything left in the budget for tuition, fees, and textbooks.
Many schools are taking steps to help remove academic, financial, and situational barriers for nontraditional students. Some schools are now offering flexible schedules and workshops to reorient older students to college life, and are adding more support and financial aid services.
Porter has found help from the Nontraditional Student Organization (NTSO) at Texas State, which provides academic and social support to students such as him.
"That's when I realized that there were a ton of us out there coming back to school with many other responsibilities," he said. "NTSO has helped me to be involved with people again."
Austin Community College, which has 33,000 students at seven campuses, has implemented programs and services to accommodate part-time students. Dr. Virginia Murillo, the college's Riverside Campus dean of student services, said many nontraditional students at ACC often must overcome a lack of preparation for a college curriculum and need financial assistance.
"We have to find ways to better serve the part-time student — not only in financial aid policies but in how we deliver services to those who are not on campus everyday," Murillo said.
ACC's initiatives include weekend-only classes; weekend hours for student services, including financial aid; supplemental instruction that provides an opportunity for students to meet with classmates to study; and Summer Bridge programs in reading, writing, and math to help students prepare for the first year of college.
"There seems to be a stigma about part-time enrollment — maybe some believe that is a reflection of their commitment to their education," Murillo said. "The reality is that part-time students have a strong commitment, but they face multiple obstacles that make full-time enrollment a non-viable option. Unfortunately, today's students have to work not just for discretionary items but for basic necessities."
-30-
For tips on how to establish high expectations for students as early as middle school and for assistance in planning for higher education academically and financially, visit www.AIE.org. TG provides this Web site has a public service to help all families and students achieve their educational goals and career dreams.
About TG
TG is a public, nonprofit corporation that administers the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). High resolution files suitable for publication are available as a free download from TG's Web site at http://www.tgslc.org/edufacts/index.cfm. For more information, please e-mail or call ray.perez@tgslc.org or (512) 219-4990.