2. Slaying Emotional Monsters Strategies to Improve the Retention of Adult Learners Ruby A. Rouse, PhD Debbie Ritter-Williams, PhD University of Phoenix Research Institute

3. Adult Student Retention (Milam, 2008)

4. Agenda Identifying Emotional Monsters Leveraging Sources of Support Developing Your Battle Plan!

5. Identifying Emotional Monsters

6. Adult Student College Retention Survey (ASCRS) 4,446 students over the age of 22 1,300 educational institutions Online survey Data collection spring and summer 2011 Focus of the study –Psychosocial issues –Sources of support –Retention

7. What is a psychosocial issue?

9.      40% Resented missing interesting activities 39% Stressed about time away from work 38% Felt practical experience was not valued in school 35% Felt unable to build relationships with other students 38% Felt uncertain about their academic goals Top 10 Emotional Monsters Haunting Adult Students in College 1 st Strike 2 nd Strike 3 rd Strike Other Team Strike      71% Stressed about money spent on school 59% Stressed about time away from loved ones 52% Worried about their intellectual ability 42% Feared they need to prove their competence 49% Stressed by disruptions to their normal routine XXXX

10. Leveraging Sources of Support

14. Who are the Heroes of Adult Students?

15. Most Effective Personal Sources of Support Spouse or significant other78% Friends taking classes68% Children67% Friends not taking classes47%

16. Most Effective School Sources of Support Faculty members76% Academic counselor64% Financial aid counselor59% Academic department56% Other students in class50% Dean of students48% Adult student services45%

17. Most Effective Work Sources of Support Primary supervisor61% Co-workers53%

18. On-going Study of Adult Student Retention 60 adult students Associate program Cohorted learning Longitudinal study Data collection 2010-2012 Focus of the study –Retention –Social & Emotional Issues

19. Collaborative Partners 78% Spouse/significant other 76% Faculty members 61% Primary supervisor

20. “Cheerleading” Peers 68% Friends taking classes 53% Co-workers 50% Other students in class 47% Friends not taking classes

21. Trusted Advisors 64% Academic counselors 59% Financial aid counselor 56% Academic departments

22. Retention Rates

23. Thoughts about the Research?

24. Developing Your “Battle Plan”

26. Ready to “Test Your Might”?