The students of 1980 include more older learners than ever before. A group of studies are reviewed here that show trends in adult education, characteristics of these new students, barriers to their attendance, and their performance. (Author)

This paper examines the needs of the adult learner and how these needs are being met at Kent State University, Ohio, and by other colleges and universities. Factors explaining the rise of adult learning on college campuses and demographic information on the current adult student population in colleges and universities are presented. Reasons for…

Discusses the problems of women who return to college late in life, and the developmental tasks they face. Suggests student personnel staff be aware of their different motivations, assets, problems, and changing roles. Reports two case studies illustrating the particular problems these students present. (JAC)

A literature review of barriers to women who re-enter higher education studies is presented. Several factors are thought to influence the experience of re-entry women: the type of institution she attends, the type of program that she finds there, and her personal and social situation. Re-entry women are discussed in terms of inner city women, low…

Research and descriptive studies conducted from 1966 to 1979 in the area of mature women returning to school are reviewed, and an annotated bibliography in this field is presented. Some important articles from the early sixties are also included. The following topics are considered: description of women returning to college, reasons for returning…