1. Keeping Up With the Kids ~
When Mom & Dad Go Back to College!

2. Let’s Start With A Bit Of Fun!

3. Presentation Overview ~
Adult Learners and Efforts in Recruitment/Marketing
Adult Learners and the Admissions Process
Adult Learners and Transfer Evaluations
Adult Learners and Orientations
Adult Learners and Advising
Adult Learners and Efforts in Retention
Recruitment & Marketing
What are some barriers or difficulties in recruiting adult learners?
What are some best practices that could help?
Transfer Evaluations
Many adult learners have a keen interest in transfer evaluations
Using this process to recruit and retain adult learners
Orientations can be critical
Discuss the use of orientations for adult learners

4. Adult Learners & Efforts in Recruitment/Marketing
Barriers & Pitfalls
Not in localized area, i.e. high school
Failed or withdrew the first time around
Prior student debt
Frustration with “red tape”
Insecure with technology
Localization
Easier to recruit in high schools for traditional age students
Universities can recruit at community colleges for adult learners
Business & Industry is final “localized” arena.
May need to design recruitment in wide-net effort
Social media?
Conferences?
BSN target populations
Failed ~ withdrew ~ prior debt
Need to show flexibility, empathy, possible debt forgiveness?
Red-Tape
Little understanding for “the system”
We know the reasons for what we do, but adult learners do not
Minimize anxiety by not “passing” student from place to place.
Technology? May know , but what else?

5. Adult Learners & Efforts in Recruitment/Marketing
Best Practices ~
Good Customer Service!
Best Marketing is Word of Mouth
Ensure Seamless Transition
Minimize “Red Tape”
Minimize Fears of Technology
Start Small ~ Certificates that Grow
Customer Service ~
Requests for information ~ quick response with good information
Timely response to any questions and instructions on application
Do NOT pass to someone else!
Take care of your potential applicants ~ Word of Mouth is your best recruitment method.
If transferring, make sure it moves seamlessly.
Check that credits did move they way they need to.
Look over DARS carefully for coding errors.
Don’t allow adult learner to get tied up in red tape.
Don’t send them to Registration, or Financial Aid, or Advising Center ~
Get them the answers they need and provide customer service!
Don’t let them feel overwhelmed.
Help them take small bites first ~ show them how it can be broken down into manageable parts

6. Admissions ~ Remember ~ Customer Service is the Key! Supply Next Steps
Be Helpful ~ answer any questions respectfully
Be Respectful ~ remember the Golden Rule
Be Timely ~ complete the process in an expeditious time frame
Supply Next Steps
Be Responsive ~ provide information on next steps
Be Informative ~ give provide complete information
Provide Contacts
Be Forthcoming ~ provide contacts for additional services

7. Credit Transfer Evaluations ~
Area of Concern for
Adult Learners~
Prior Failure/Poor Performance
Fear this will impede returning
Misunderstanding of Transfer Process
Do not understand how credits transfer
Equivalents, substitutions, or electives
Optimize as much as possible
Assist in Reading DARS
Interested in Credit for Prior Learning
“What Do I have “Left” to Earn Degree?
Transfer Specialist can make a large impact here!
Work in tandem with academic advisors.

8. Orientations ~ “How do I …?”
Best Practice in Orientations ~
Calm the fears of unknowns
Teach “How do I … ?
Eases the burdens on Student Services too!
Teach the process
Explain the reasons behind the red tape
Equivalents, substitutions, or electives
Optimize as much as possible
Assist in Reading DARS
Interested in Credit for Prior Learning
“What Do I have “Left” to Earn Degree?
Orientations are a good teaching tool that is not utilized to its full potential.
Online orientation that is required prior to enrollment.
Significantly diminished the frequency of calls/ s asking questions.
Identifies the students that will need technological assistance.

9. Best Practices in Advising for Adult Learners
Advising Does Matter!
One More Time ~ Customer Service!
Be helpful in advising
Break things down into smaller pieces
Responsiveness Matters!
“No one is getting back to me”
Be responsive & professional
Create Plans for Degree
Tentative degree plans, continue to revisit
Encourage & assist through problems
Optimize as much as possible
Become the “Go To” Person
Do not send to other if possible.
Creating Plans for Degree ~
Story about “bad” advising
Color coded degree plans & making student select first.
Students want someone that is helpful and dependable.

10. Retention for Adult Learners
Enigmatic Nature of Retention Data ~
Difficult to Document
Ability to extrapolate adult students
Adult learners tend to drop out & come back
Qualitative Data is Positive!
Provided assistance along the way
Could not have made it without help
As Always! Customer Service!!
Be pleasant and helpful
Be honest with mistakes
Work together with your learners
Adult learner have “life events” that interrupt schooling
Starting family
Parenting parents
Changes in employment
Etc.
Need programs to be flexible for entrance, exit and re-entry.
Sitting out for 1 semester?
Maybe for 2 semesters? ~ Use a sitting out code.
Not sure? ~ Cancel or end date ISRS information and Re-Admit later.
Completion of orientation will also give data on who started and quit.
Who may be coming back later…

11. Any Additional Questions or Comments?

12. Thank you for your Time & ATTENDANCE!
Lori Wynia, Ed.D.
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN