Adult Students Opt for Online Class
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The 2008 Sloan Survey of Online Learning, released in November before the extent of the recession was clear, found that while all types of colleges anticipate enrollment bumps because of high unemployment, two-year and private for-profit institutions expect to increase their rolls more than others since they “tend to offer programs that have traditionally been tailored to serve working adults.”
And as the economic forecast has grown increasingly pessimistic, these expectations are more likely to play out, according to I. Elaine Allen, an associate professor at Babson College, one of the report’s authors.
“A lot of people want to increase their skill levels or get that degree they didn’t have,” Ms. Allen told The Chronicle this week. The threat of losing their jobs, she said, “can be as big a motivator as the actuality.”
It is easier for adults who are going to college to do so online because of family and work commitments. The option of online flexibility is attractive because the coursework can be accomplished on various schedules. This trend is expected to continue for some time, as our economy remains uncertain.
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Editor: Melissa Steele is a freelance writer and focuses her research on funding for higher education. She is a graduate of UNLV and endeavors to keep her readers up to date with the most relevant education information.