Student Services for Adults in Southeastern Community and Junior Colleges

The purpose of this research was to identify and to describe examples of student services programs which were designed to serve the special needs of older (24 years and older) students by community and junior colleges. The data were collected from a questionnaire and interview with the chief student personnel administrator at each of 18 community and junior colleges in the Southeastern United States.

Based on a review of the literature, five categories of student services were selected for study. These categories included admissions, counseling, financial aid, career planning and placement, and support services.

The questionnaire and interview items were developed from questionnaires and information found in the literature concerning adults and higher education. An analysis of the data revealed the following facts.

1. One half of the student personnel administrators surveyed were unable to supply enrollment data by full-time or part-time, male or female students.

2. Services were not offered adults in all five of the categories studied.

3. Of those services offered most often, counseling and financial aid services received the greatest amount of institutional support and emphasis for serving adult learners. Career planning and support services received the least amount.

4. When addressing the needs of older students, as identified in the literature, community and junior college student services divisions have, on the average, made some attempt to meet those needs.

None of them is attempting to meet all of their needs.

5. The chief student personnel officer of each institution perceived the services being offered adults as effective in meeting adults' needs.

6. None of the student personnel administrators could supply institutional research data confirming their positive perceptions of the impact services had had on increased enrollment and retention of older students.

7. Community and junior colleges generally did not officially differentiate between their traditional and non-traditional students, although the student services staffs normally did. Colleges which do not differentiate are less likely to have special services for older students. 3. Institutions in this study are not making adequate attempts to meet the non-academic needs of older students in all the service categories studied. Therefore, many of the needs for services held by lifelong learners are not being met by many community and junior college student services divisions.

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