The seven characteristics of post-traditional students defined by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) are students that:

1. Have delayed enrollment into post-secondary education
2. Attend part-time
3. Are financially independent of parents
4. Work full-time while enrolled
5. Have dependents other than a spouse
6. Are a single parent
7. Lack a standard high school diploma

It is important to note that any one or any combination of these characteristics can significantly play into a student’s expectations and needs from an institution of higher learning.

It is also important to consider that while a student may not be 25 years or older, they may have non-traditional student needs because they meet one or more of the above characteristics. 

Over the years, ACE has conducted surveys, focus groups, call campaigns and external research to get a better sense of what adult learners want in their college experience and how well WSU is delivering.

Consistently we have found that adult learners are looking for:

• Ease of transferring credit from institution to institution
• Flexible course, certificate and degree programs
• Online, hybrid, evening, cohort and competency-based learning opportunities
• Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and less time to degree completion
• Flexible financial aid policies and scholarship opportunities that recognize the unique struggles and circumstances faced by many post-traditional students
• Adult friendly places and faces

The above-mentioned findings only scratch the surface in painting a picture of what adult students prioritize and value as they pursue post-secondary education.

Some professional organizations that dedicate their efforts and work to advocating for and educating others about adult learner trends, needs and preferences include:

• The Council of Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL)
• University Professionals and Continuing Education (UPCEA)
• American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE), among others.

If you have an interest in learning more about adult learner theory so that you can better advocate for and serve this population at WSU, please contact us at continuingeducation@winona.edu.

We are happy to advise on what professional development opportunities may exist that would give you a deeper understanding of national trends and best practices in the field of andragogy.

Winona State is active in applying this knowledge and advancing our internal practices to better align with adult learner priorities. Several degree programs exist, with which ACE works very closely, that exemplify the responsiveness to our internal and external research.

The Winona State University-Rochester campus programs serve more adult students than traditional students. A variety of hybrid, online and evening course options are offered on the Rochester campus to meet more complex scheduling needs, and the Path to Purple tracks make transfer easy.

While ACE does not directly influence or advise on Rochester programming efforts geared toward adult learners, collaborations between the two departments are not uncommon because of the complimentary nature of our work.