Transitioning Adult Students to the Academy Face-to-Face and Online

1. Transitioning Adult Students
to the Academy
Face to Face and Online
2013 CAEL International Conference
November 6, 2013

2. Audience
• GED completers
• High school graduates who have been away
from school for a number of years
• Attended college or other postsecondary
program in the past
• Re-tooling career and brushing up on skills
• Non-native speakers

3. Program Goals
On the ground…
• Personal educational plan
• Increased confidence and
competence
• Academic skill building
• Mirror the college
classroom
• Familiarity with PSU
• Recruit better prepared
students
Online…
• Provide necessary
remediation
• Skill building for at-risk
adult learners
• Introduce online learning
environment
• Highlight quality of PSU
online courses
• Recruit better prepared
students

4. Recruitment Strategies
On the ground…
• Admissions/Info Sessions
• Academic Advisers
• Career Counselor
• CareerLink staff
• Marketing collateral
• Program alums and general
word-of-mouth
Online…
• Outreach Admissions
• Enrollment coaching
• World Campus prospective
student Web site
• Future plans include current
students in need of
remediation and skill
building

5. Instructor and Staff Involvement
• Instructors
• Career Counselors
• Admission Counselor
• Student Aid Adviser

6. Course Content
Writing
& Study
Skills
Selfconfidence
& efficacy
Career
Assessment
Educational
Plan
Penn
State
resources
Career
Exploration
/ Research
General
Research
(Library &
Internet)
Public
Speaking
Technology

7. Lessons Learned
•
•
•
•
Pre-class screening is essential
Separate the orientation session
Assume undiagnosed learning disabilities
Be prepared for slower start-up with online
learners
• Accept that all students are anxious about
returning to school
• Community building is important

8. Data Tracking
On the ground…
• Computer literacy
• TABE
• Program evaluations
• Student testimonials
• % of completers
• Subsequent PSU enrollment
• PSU retention and GPA
• Alumni Reunion
Online…
• Non-starters
• Program evaluations
• % of completers
• Student testimonials
• Subsequent PSU World
Campus enrollment
• PSU retention and GPA

9. On the Ground Data
summer 2011-summer 2013
• 127 participants, 68% completed
• Average age is 40; most employed full time
• Previous education level indicates some
college (#1) and high school grad (#2)
• PSU staff reported as #1 recruitment strategy,
Career Link #2, and display ads #3
• 45 participants enrolled at PSU with 513
credits earned, generating $306,608 in tuition

10. Online Data
fall 2013
• 15 participants enrolled, 12 started, 3 completed,
2 hope to complete the course
• 1 AL, 1 Bahamas, 1 CA, 1 NJ, 9 PA, 1 Puerto Rico,
1 TN
• 8 male and 7 female; average age is 38 ranging
from 29 to 57 (median 35); with prior college (9),
trade school (2), high school (3), and GED (1) as
their previous educational levels
• All participants referred by admissions counselor
or enrollment coach; no advertising

11. Presenters
Richard Brungard
Academic Support Resource Coordinator – World Campus
richard@psu.edu
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/how-online-learning-works/student-services
Betsy Esposito
Academic Support Resource Coordinator – Continuing Education
bxb4@psu.edu
http://ceup.psu.edu/transitions
Elizabeth Lasher
Career Counselor, Penn State Continuing Education
ejl155@psu.edu
Michelle Wiley
Manager, Academic Support Resources, Penn State Outreach
mcw22@psu.edu
… and Sonia Ramsey and Mary Osborn, instructors, via video