Colleges Must do More

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College is the best time of a person’s life. This may be true for some, but for adult students it is usually anything but the best time of their life. Adult students, often referred to as nontraditional students, are entering college in record numbers. The influx of nontraditional students can be attributed to a number of reasons. Many adults have found themselves unemployed since the onset of the recession in the United States, and cannot find suitable work. The ever decreasing job pool consists mostly of positions that require a college degree of some sort. Other adults are simply looking to further their education or advance in their current career field; while other adults are looking to completely change their career field. Most nontraditional students are not only managing their class schedule and homework load, they are often also managing a household and a full or part time job. The successful completion of college is challenging enough for traditional-aged students; add in the extra responsibilities, not to mention expenses many nontraditional students have, and the feat seems nearly impossible. For many adults, the expense of college is something they simply cannot afford. The adults that do take the plunge into higher education often find that colleges do not offer the support and flexibility they require to be successful. For nontraditional students to succeed, colleges must lower tuition rates, support their specific needs, and offer more online courses. The increasing cost of tuition prevents many adults from continuing their education. Most adults must budget their monthly income, and for many families there is little to no excess. Adults considering going to college must find a way to fit the cost of t... ... middle of paper ... ...wpoints In Context. Web. 20 June 2011. “JSU Tuition Climbing 12.8 Percent this Fall.” Anniston Star [Anniston, AL] 18 Apr. 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 June 2011. Maehl, William H. “Nontraditional Students in Higher Education.” Encyclopedia of Education. Ed. James W. Guthrie. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1814-1816. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 20 June 2011. “More Taking Online Classes.” Daily News [Bowling Green, KY] 26 Sept. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 24 June 2011. “Online Classes Can Increase Learning.” Has Technology Increased Learning? Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 20 June 2011. “Update: College Tuition Costs.” Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 22 Feb. 2010. Web. 22 June 2011.

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