College for working adults is not something that has been prominent in the educational landscape. However, many adults decide to go back to school because they feel the need to: job displacement, career change, passion, or economic necessity. It isn't always easy to get a degree. These students have multiple jobs and priorities so they need to find ways to manage their time and get a degree.
Reilly's college experience has no degree
Caitlin Ryan, who will be graduating in May 2021 from North Carolina State University with her master's degree (in parks, recreation, tourism management) with a minor focusing on human dimensions and natural resources, has worked in environmental education since many years. After receiving her undergraduate degree at Davidson in environmental science, Reilly continued her education at NC State's Environmental Education Lab. During this time, she met her future co-worker Kathryn Stevenson.
Jennie Harrop's adult degree program
Jennie Harrop's Adult Degree Program is designed to help adult learners learn the skills required to effectively communicate their message. Her program is a combination of theory and practice that helps students to understand the basics behind good writing. She focuses on the most important and least important writing rules, such as how to create meaning and structure in a sentence, paragraph and essay.
Assessment of prior learning
Prior learning assessment is a way for adult students to earn college credit for prior learning. This can help students save time and money. Many students may possess college-level skills but lack the formal education.
Flexible schedules
Flexible schedules are beneficial for adults who need to manage their busy lives. Flexible schedules appeal to high school students who have multiple responsibilities and differing learning and emotional needs. It is also difficult to arrange school days around their jobs.
Financial aid
There are many financial assistance options available to college students. These include grants, scholarships, and employer tuition reimbursement programs. If your employer does no offer tuition reimbursement, you will have to search for other funding sources. Federal Pell Grants are the most popular source of college funding for adults.
Access to education
Many adults struggle to manage their work and family responsibilities while also taking classes. Many adults don't have the support system or college counseling programs that they need to be successful in college. There are now more universities and colleges that offer programs for adult learners.