Going Back to School Providing the Financial Aid and Counseling Your Adult Students Need to be Successful

Presenters Traci Nichols Montcalm Community College and Juliann Murphy West Shore Community College

Campus Demographics 37% of the 17.9 million students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities in 2008 were over age 25

Projected Increases This 37% is expected to increase by 20% over the next 5-10 years nationwide

Agenda Why are adults returning to school? Characteristics of adult students How they impact our schools Two school’s approach to meeting the needs of adult students Open discussion

Changing Workforce Exporting of service and high tech jobs –850,000 professional service and information sector jobs (AFL-CIO) –One service sector hit hard by job losses in information technology –Forrester Research Inc. predicts U.S. employers will move 3.4 million white- collar jobs and $136 billion in wages overseas by 2015

Changing Workforce Two industry sectors expected to have the largest projected increases through 2018 –Professional and business services (4.2 million) –Health care and social assistance (4.0 million) –Bureau of Labor Statics

Additional Education Will Be Needed Occupations that usually require a post secondary degree or certificate are expected to account for nearly half of all new jobs from 2008 to 2018 and one-third of total job openings Bureau of Labor Statistics

Why Adults Are Returning to School?

Loss of Employment 14.6 million unemployed people- 9.5% 125,000 jobs lost in June 2010 Resulting in double-digit enrollment increases at community colleges and other schools

Changing Workforce Manufacturing decline –2.5 million manufacturing jobs have disappeared since 2001 (AFL-CIO)

Other Reasons Adults Return to School New career Career change Career advancement or requirement Major life event Higher income Personal enrichment

Characteristics of Adult Students

Who Are They? Adult students Re-entry students Returning students Adult learners Non-traditional students

What Makes a Student Non-traditional? Delays enrollment after high school graduation Attends college part-time Works full-time Is financially independent Has children or other dependents Is a single parent Has a GED National Center For Education Statistics

What Adults Bring to Your Campus Work and life experiences Family commitments Debt obligations Time constraints Wisdom and maturity Organization Self-motivation and determination

Barriers That Differ Finding time –Struggle to balance between school, work, and family commitments Finding money –Some adults have mortgages, car loans, and student loans

Money Barriers 25- to 30-year-olds are the highest defaulters, followed by 31- to 34- year-olds –Loss of Title IV eligibility About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year Average household has over $8,000 in credit card debt Bankrate.com

What Adults Are Looking For Credit for work/life experiences Accelerated programs Flexibility Several learning options Financial assistance

How They Impact Schools

Impact to Schools Class schedules, degree requirements, financial aid, resources, and support tailored to adult students in order for them to succeed –Distance learning –Online courses –Night classes –Onsite child care

Who is Montcalm Community College? West-Central Michigan’s preeminent provider of and preferred choice for education, training, and life-long learning Established in 1965 Offers one year certificates and two year associates, including transfer programs

Who are the students at MCC? In , MCC educated over 3000 students, with 2297 of them being enrolled in less than 12 credits Students over age 25: –Male: 458 –Female: 1030

How does MCC help these adult students? Offer a variety of times for classes –Including Saturday and Sunday Offer different ways to take classes –On line –In person –Hybrid Offer different places to take classes

Challenges For MCC Many business closings- Frigidaire High gas prices No dorms Poor economy Michigan State law changes Lower enrollment

West Shore Community College Scottville, Michigan

Who We Are? One of the smallest community colleges in MI Record enrollment this Fall with 1617 students! 261 were dual enrolled

Who We Are? In a rural area on the west coast Closest 4 year institution is more than 60 miles away Closest 2 year institution is more than 60 miles away

Who Are Our Students? 56% are part-time 61% are female Average age is 28

Who Are Our FA Students? 1,695 FAFSAs, YTD % enrolled have a $0 EFC 80% are Pell-eligible

Who Are Our FA Students? 61% are independent 55% are first generation 214 self-identified as a dislocated worker

What Non-Traditional Students Worry About? Can they get a loan? Will they be able to pay the loan back? They need a job, not a degree

What Non-Traditional Students Worry About? Are they too old to learn? Will they be the oldest in the class?

How We Help? Professional Judgment for income adjustment appeals Mi-Works partnership Make a personal connection with the student

Your Challenge What will you do?