Through a gerontological lens, using grounded theory methods and both qualitative and quantitative data, we investigated the "off-time" enrollment of mid- and later-life (MLL) community college students (age 40+) to explore how their enrollment decisions and academic goals are situated in the timing and intersection of life events and…

Mid-career men and women professionals describe their pervasive sense of 'lateness' retraining in law. Against industry patterns of lawyers wishing to leave the profession, these individuals had chosen to assert or reassert a desire to become lawyers partway through existing careers. What cultural narratives mediate the process of making this…

Adult professionals enroll in online graduate programs and rely on social support and on their ability to self-regulate to be successful. The literature on academic self-regulation among emerging adults (traditional college age) is ample, but we do not know how social support interacts with academic self-regulation among adult graduate students at…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of higher education in mid-life from the perspective of life course agency. Studies concerning the benefits of degree-oriented higher education have been mainly conducted using survey questionnaires and quantitative methods. In order to gain a more comprehensive picture, this qualitative…

Learning is an act of hope. Although adults enter learning experiences from many frames of emotion and cognitive beliefs, each views this experience as the purposeful choice for a new and different future, a future of hope and possibilities. For adult learners, the pursuit of higher education is a choice and a life-changing engagement. Given the…

Used qualitative research design to apply role exit theory to adult women students (n=221) undergoing life transition. Findings suggest that role of student for these women is transitional one. Student role appeared to be bridge to new role and women used it to complete role exit process or to bring closure and deal with respective life…

Although it may be so subtle that it is not noticed or sudden and life altering, adult development occurs in a cycle of four inherent processes: transaction, transition, transformation, and transcendence. These processes exist in a cycle characterized by growth and development. The processes can be defined as follows: (1) transaction--personal,…

Reviews the findings of Alsanian and Brickell's study of adults' returning to formal education and the causes of adult learning. Shows that career events, followed by changes in leisure-time activity, outnumber all other reasons for returning to school. Discusses the implications of increasing life transitions for community colleges, especially…

Compared 106 middle-aged student (outwardly oriented) and nonstudent (home oriented) women on attitudes toward age, perceived happiness and satisfaction, perceived physical health, number and severity of depressing symptoms, self-esteem, and autonomy. The student group reported better health, fewer and less severe depressive symptoms, and higher…

This narrative tells the story of a nontraditional student who completed her education to become a college teacher when returning to school was quite unusual. Twenty years after high school graduation, the teacher received a bachelors degree and began a 14-year career teaching mathematics and physical sciences in a public high school. In that…

Meeting the educational and personal development needs of adults in transition presents the greatest challenge to higher education. This article discusses a study to determine how adults in transition believe their educational programs to be helpful. (JOW)

Argues that an understanding of the dynamics of life transitions is crucial to effective adult education programs. Examines the "stage/phase" theory of transitions, maintaining that transitions occur in predictable sequences, and the "life event" theory, which views transitions as the result of social processes. (22 citations) (MAB)

The rapid growth in the number of older adult learners presents new challenges and opportunities for adult educators. These include facilitating the development of individuals as they make the transition to their later years and of American society as it struggles to reenvision aging.

The increased college attendance of mature women students has played a major role in the changing demographics of college enrollment. This study examined the experience of reentry women during the initial period of adjustment from the time just prior to college entrance to the end of their first or second academic year. A pre- and post-test…

Academic advisors must understand the needs and motivations of adult learners and develop advising skills and programs in response to these needs. Models of theories of Heddesheimer, Campbell, Gottfredson, Bridges, and Schlossberg are described. (Author/MLW)