RETENTION OF ADULT COLLEGE STUDENTS
There are many studies dealing with retention of traditional college-age students, but few about retention of adult students. Some of the reasons traditional college-age students withdraw, while others remain enrolled, can be found in that literature. What is lacking is data about adults who do not finish a degree program, data that indicate whether or not they follow the patterns that characterize traditional college-age students. In this article some of the reasons traditional college-age students withdraw are applied to adults, as summarized by a review of the literature. In addition to offering additional conclusions regarding adults who persist versus those who drop out, suggestions are given for increasing the retention of adult students.
Contributor Notes
*JOHNSTEWARTSWIFT, JR., received a B.F.A. from Wittenberg University in 1966, an M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1968, and a PhD. from the University of Toledo in 1984. He is currently the associate dean of University College and adjunct assistant professor of Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Toledo. He is a consultant to the College Board, Midwest Regional Office and vice chairman of the Academic Advisory Panel of that office. Lh- Swift was recognized by the Ohio House of Representatives as an outstanding educator in the State of Ohio in 1984 and 1985 and received the Project Innovation Special Merit Award for Educational Leadership and Research in 1986. In the past 3 years, Lh-. Swift has made 10 presentations at conferences or at the invitation of various organizations. He has published 14 articles, and has been-asked to write a monograph for the ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Series. The title of the monograph is “Volunteerism – A Critical National Issue. What Role Will Higher Education Choose To Take?”
