No two college or university students are the same. While some students can give all of their energy and time to their studies, others have additional commitments such as an aging family member to care for, a child or a full-time job.
These students are often referred to as nontraditional students and they make up a large portion of college students across the country. The newest data available shows that nearly 74% of students have at least one nontraditional characteristic.
New data also shows that college enrollment is declining. Earlier this spring, enrollment saw a decline of 3.5%, seven times worse than the decline from last year. However, adult students (over the age of 25) who are considered to be nontraditional, saw a 2-3% increase in enrollment.
All of this data points to one fact: your classroom will likely include students from all walks of life, including students that don’t fit the traditional student mold. And to properly engage them and set them up for success, it’s critical to consider nontraditional students when planning your courses and their requirements.
In this post, we’ll discuss six ways you can better engage nontraditional students, so all have a fair chance of reaching their educational goals:
- Understand What Being Nontraditional Means
- Offer Hands-On Education in the Real-World
- Set Clear Expectations From the Start
- Know When to Intervene With Data
- Consider Time Accommodations
- Allow for Flexible Learning
1. Understand What Being Nontraditional Means
There is some confusion regarding what being a nontraditional student means. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nontraditional students are often defined if they fit one or more of the following:
- They have a GED instead of a high school diploma.
- They delayed their postsecondary education after high school.
- They have family or financial restraints. For example, they may work full-time or have a child to take care of at home.
Other nontraditional students may be single parents, may work part-time and may be financially independent when it comes to financial aid. Students over the age of 25 may also be considered nontraditional.
If you have any students in your class that fit any of these characteristics, they may require additional accommodations.
How to Determine Which Students Are Nontraditional
At the beginning of each term, you do have the option of performing a confidential survey to better understand the students in your classroom, if you so choose. You should also keep an open door of communication, allowing students to discuss any factors that may impact their education.
If you’re planning, it’s probably best to develop classroom policies and materials that work for all students, regardless of how much you know.
2. Offer Hands-On Education in the Real-World
Many nontraditional students attend college programs to boost their careers or to change careers. Upskilling or obtaining a higher level of employment is important to those attending for this reason. That’s why providing hands-on education opportunities may increase nontraditional student engagement.
Some colleges and universities will offer externships with local businesses, so students can gain hands-on experience. Others partner with businesses to offer paid apprenticeship programs or internships where students can receive a part-time income while still attending school, fulfilling two distinct needs.
Many colleges and universities also provide students access to the Federal Work-Study program. Through the program, students can work part-time in their field of study while earning additional income to help pay for courses and materials. Plus, the program works around a student’s academic schedule to not interfere with studying.
3. Set Clear Expectations From the Start
Some instructors argue that any student can have something come up that warrants an extended deadline for an assignment or additional support. Yet, for some nontraditional students, priorities can truly be a challenge. To set every student up for success, it’s best to set clear expectations from the start.
This goes far beyond assignment expectations and in-classroom etiquette. You should also set expectations for late work, extra credit, makeup days and missed classes.
Make Sure to Set Realistic Goals
Part of setting expectations is ensuring you’re also setting realistic goals for all students. The truth is, life happens to all of us, even instructors. Keep an open mind and make sure you’re not expecting too much.
Consider setting goals and expectations with a nontraditional student in mind first. For example, think of the single parent who has a sick kid at home or one who is taking care of an aging parent that requires medical care.
4. Know When to Intervene With Data
Data is changing the way we do everything, from how we work to how we learn. And it’s a critical piece of the nontraditional education puzzle.
Perhaps one of the most important uses of data in education is understanding when a student is falling behind or at risk for a failing grade. Some colleges are using data inside their online learning modules to check for early warning signs of course failure. This enables instructors to mitigate the threat, providing interventions and resources to help students succeed.
Taking advantage of student data doesn’t have to be complicated. A wealth of insight for each student results from exams and assignments. If you notice a student struggling with exams, it might be time to provide additional resources.
5. Consider Time Accommodations
A nontraditional student is often faced with circumstances that are out of their control. For example, they may have a child who becomes sick right before they come into class during a test day. Or, they may experience an accident at work that keeps them from attending class during a heavy assignment week.
In these moments, additional time is all that matters. And, as the instructor, how these students move forward is up to you. Consider allowing for extended due dates on a case-by-case basis or extending due dates for all assignments across the board. This may provide the necessary flexibility students need to still turn in their work, without sacrificing their health and other responsibilities.
Being flexible when it comes to due dates may also increase the quality of work your students return to you. This benefits you and the student, as higher quality work often means a better grade.
6. Allowing for Flexible Learning
In this day and time, technology is available at our fingertips and more students are taking advantage of it. Prior to COVID-19 when online learning increased, approximately 17% of students were enrolled entirely in online learning and 19% took at least one course online.
Flexible, online learning options allow nontraditional students to have the work/school/life balance they need to study on their own time, whether it’s between work and family time or while their little one naps.
While some instructors provide completely online courses, others provide materials both in-class and electronically. For example, they instruct in-person and leverage digital courseware for assignments, lecture videos and more.
This method of teaching can ensure your students are still able to connect to class and finish their work, regardless of their circumstances.
Engage Your Students With Digital Courseware by Lumen Learning
Whatever methods you choose to adopt in your classroom, it’s important to prioritize your nontraditional students to ensure they’re set up for classroom success. And one way to do so is by providing digital learning options.
Lumen’s digital courseware delivers. To learn more about Lumen Learning, our available courses or how we can support your classroom, fill out our contact form today.