Campus officials give mixed reviews to retention programs focused on adult learners/nontraditional students

With the forecast calling for substantial increases in adult learner enrollments over the next decade, Noel-Levitz recently asked campus officials across the U.S. to rate their retention programs for adult learners using a four-part scale: “very effective,” “somewhat effective,” “minimally effective,” and “method not used.”

Across three institutional types (see above), less than half of the respondents reported using these programs. Among those using the programs, approximately one-half to two-thirds of respondents indicated their programs were “very effective” or “somewhat effective” while a substantial minority chose “minimally effective.”

Although the response was mixed, the proportions of campus officials who rated these programs “very effective” has generally improved based on comparisons with earlier, parallel polls. For example, in 2009, the rating of “very effective” was given by only 16 percent of four-year private institution respondents, by only 3 percent of four-year public respondents, and by only 7 percent of two-year public institution respondents.

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Is your institution working to improve its adult learner retention? Learn how to retain adult learners more effectively at a complimentary Webinar: Retaining and Serving Nontraditional Students, coming up on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Join us to hear how you can increase the retention and satisfaction of nontraditional students using assessment data and strategically-timed interventions. We will examine the unique needs of adult learners, online learners, and transfer students.