Outreach to Adult Learners

Improving Outreach by Addressing Barriers

Dispositional Barriers•FEAR

1. “Hand holding” through the process2. Keeping them informed (e-mail; phone calls)3. New highly interactive website presenting information in

a way adults can understand4. Answering the “Three Main Questions”

o Exactly what do I need to do?o How long with it take?o How much will it cost?

• Staff Development– Training staff to more effectively interact with

adult learners– Importance of “building relationships”

• Institutional Barriers1. Review of processes to identify areas that were

not “adult friendly”2. More online programs3. More accelerated classes4. More entry points 5. Better, more interactive website to provide

information

• Situational Barriers1. Money

o Working on being more “proactive” regarding adult student financial aid

o Working on a “financial aid” person trained and dedicated to adults

2. Family/Work/Lifeo Working on more online/accelerated programso Working on more “adult friendly” information, etc.o Working on creating a virtual MTSU experience (create

community/identity)

Strategies Across Multiple Barriers

• Pro-Active Advising1. More Advisor-initiated contact2. Developing a semester-by-semester, course-by-course

degree plan• Strong Focus on Prior Learning Assessment

1. More options (different types)2. More degrees utilizing PLA3. Standardizing recognition of existing training by local

companies4. Making PLA part of the initial conversation