CAEL / Our Services / Advising Adult Learners Workshop

Advisors of adult students will recognize that this population brings with it challenges that traditional-age students do not necessarily face. Adults learn differently, face different issues related to work-life balance, and may have access to different financial aid sources than their younger counterparts. Participants in this one-day workshop will learn to respond to the needs of adult learners and receive a toolkit of resources for advisors and students.

The workshop covers adult learning theory and reviews the principles associated with an Adult Learner Focused Institution (ALFI). Advisors attending will learn about marketing their institution to adult learners, helping them identify sources of financial aid and other resources such as transportation and dependent care, and researching labor market trends to identify areas for potential careers.

Adult students may already have learning that could qualify for college credit and the session provides basic information on prior learning assessment. It also deals with the issue of learning styles, particularly the popularity of distance learning, and includes a quiz that students can take to determine their suitability for this type of education experience.

The toolkit participants receive includes resources in each of these areas, many of which can be copied and shared with students, as well as a bibliography of adult learning resources for advisors and students.

Goals of the session:

• To provide advisors of adult students with a greater understanding of the challenges facing adult or non-traditional students
  
• To equip advisors with the tools necessary to remove some of the barriers to education for adult students
  
• To help advisors make their institutions more welcoming to adult learners
  

Originally developed for the University of WI system.