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Activities for Engaging the Non-Traditional Student Across Three Dimensions: Behavior, Affect, and Cognition

Non-traditional students, a demographic encompassing various backgrounds and circumstances (Chung & Chur-Hansen, 2017; Postsecondary National Policy Institute, 2023; Trowler, 2015), constitute a significant and growing proportion of college attendees. They represent individuals from underrepresented groups (Chung et al., 2014; Schuetze & Slowey, 2002) with statistics revealing diverse profiles: 37% aged 25 or older, 42% students of color, 46% first-generation, 49% financially independent from parents, and 64% full-time workers (Lumina Foundation, n.d.). These students have varied educational experiences and engagement preferences (Trowler, 2015), underscoring the necessity for multifaceted approaches to enhancing their involvement in learning (Harvey, Burnheim, Brett, 2016). Common underlying themes for non-persistence of non-traditional students include balancing commitments, managing finances, navigating course work, and addressing health issues or inadequate support system...
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Retaining Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education

A Personal Non-Traditional Student Retention Story It was my high school guidance counselor who asked me if I planned to apply to colleges while at the end of my senior year. I was lucky to have that because that is how I found out there was a recruitment and application seminar that I could go to that would help me fill out the application form for community college. I don’t even remember how I learned of being accepted, but I do remember finding out that I would have to take some placement tests, one for English and one for Math, which I was surprised about. One of the first things I needed to do was find my way around campus so I could take those placement tests, in addition to finding other locations, such as the financial aid office, registrar’s office, bookstore, and library. I had no car, and the community college was 9 miles outside of town so I also had to figure out how to use the bus system to commute because I couldn’t walk. It wasn’t until I was in my 6th year in c...
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