Traditional – Traditional No More Arlene Cash – Georgian Court University National Small College Enrollment Conference July 14, 2015 Charleston, SC The Mythological ‘Traditional’ Student

No matter how we define them, the challenge is – Getting them into Getting them matriculated through Graduating them from Our colleges!

Inside Higher Education: Emerging Markets Emerging Strategies Booklet

9 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 9 Disruptive Innovation Not necessarily out of necessity Transistor Radios Boom Boxes IPods Technology and how we see and use technology. Those things to which we assign status. Access When technological innovation meets personal needs and preferences Interests and Needs Change People change

10 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 10

11 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 11 Disruptive Innovation Not necessarily out of necessity Transistor Radios Boom Boxes IPods Technology and how we see and use technology. Those things to which we assign status. Access When technological innovation meets personal needs and preferences Interests and Needs Change People change

12 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 12

13 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 13 Disruptive Innovation Not necessarily out of necessity Transistor Radios Boom Boxes IPods Technology and how we see and use technology. Those things to which we assign status. Access When technological innovation meets personal needs and preferences Interests and Needs Change People change

14 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 14 Disruptive Innovation Not necessarily out of necessity Military Aptitude Test College Access Equalizer Admissions Gatekeeper Assuring Quality to Assuring Access to Assuring Quantity Needs and Positioning Strategies Driven SAT Institution use changes

15 Insert Your Company Name by clicking on “View” -> “Slide master” 15 Disruptive Innovation Not necessarily out of necessity Primarily for adults part time Degree and Certificate Destination Have become BA and AA providers Function transitioned as needs evolved Needs and Positioning Strategies Driven Community College Society’s use changes

“As we witness transformation across higher education, history can guide us. Many innovations started with non-traditional students and went on to redefine traditional education.” (

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is moving away from grades to competency-style education for all of its academic programs

Who are the traditional students?

Live in on-campus housing Enroll in college immediately after graduation from high school Pursue college studies on a continuous full-time basis at least during the fall and spring semesters Complete a bachelor’s degree program in four or five years at the young age of 22 or 23

Traditional students are also typically financially dependent on others Do not have children Consider their college career to be their primary responsibility Are employed only on a part-time basis if at all during the academic year

Who are the Non-Traditional Students?

Typically over the age of 24 At least one year between HS graduation and postsecondary enrollment Long term postsecondary part-time enrollment Full-time employment while enrolled (35 or more hours)

Classified as financially independent for financial aid purposes Financially support dependents other than spouse Single parent status Lacking a traditional high school diploma (earned GED)

Each nontraditional characteristic negatively affects persistence and attainment directly or indirectly  Most at risk for dropping out in 1st year at 2 or 4-year institution

Strategies for Success

Degree audit mapping/plans of study Develop early warning systems to identify at-risk students Offer workshops to help students with stress and time management, organization, and resource identification Connect students with financial aid information Offer onsite daycare or transportation services Offer flexible degree programs (block scheduling, virtual learning, mixed mode, video streaming…etc.) (Pelling, 2001; Schuetze & Slowey, 2002; Hart, 2003; Ritt, 2008; Monroe, 2006; Wyatt, 2011,)

As small colleges, we are more likely to be mission driven. How do we bring about innovation? How do we integrate evolving technology? How do we keep up with the evolving profile of the traditional student and continue to be mission centered?