Asking open-ended questions for research purposes might be very tempting because the answers can provide valuable authentic information not only about participants' responses to the asked questions but also about their unintentionally expressed feelings and emotions. However, analyzing answers to open-ended questions given in free form will very…

High-impact practices (HIPs) are anticipated to engage both traditional and nontraditional students in different ways, providing substantial educational benefits and correlating with better retention and engagement. This study reports on the development of an analytical tool to assess the impact of individual and collective HIP participation on…

This study follows the experiences of adult learners one year after completing a transition program. Transition programs seek to prepare students to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. These programs typically offer remediation and academic skill building and help adult learners to navigate matriculation and financial aid processes.…

Blended synchronous learning (BSL) has become increasingly prominent in lifelong education due to its flexibility in enabling simultaneous onsite and online participation. However, enhancing the experience and satisfaction of adult learners in this context remains a challenge. This study primarily used structural equation modelling to examine the…

As digital skills become progressively more essential for workforce participation, addressing foundational digital literacy gaps among disadvantaged workers has become an increasingly pressing issue for achieving economic growth for all. The authors summarize results from a pilot study of a course on foundational computer skills and digital…

For the purposes of this study, criteria for non-traditional students were: adults ages 25 and older, race/ethnicity, gender, entry date or transfer to a community college in Middle Tennessee during fall 2015 through summer 2021, and Pell/Grant eligibility. The problem is that non-traditional students have lower completions than traditional…

This article sheds light on adult engagement in a learning activity during and after online coaching on piano, guitar, or songwriting. Data was collected from the participants using thematic semi-structured interviews and experience sampling. To investigate the extent to which adult learners are involved in learning during and after online music…

This 5-year research project was based on an NSF S-STEM research grant (1742118) focused on student veteran education and workforce preparation. We addressed STEM workforce and defence community needs by providing targeted scholarships and support for veteran students pursuing engineering degrees. Our aim was to enhance the workforce by improving…

Purpose: The aim of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of a training programme for developing employability skills, including digital competency and soft skills (problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability, leadership, decision-making and creativity), in professional-training programmes. Design/methodology/approach: It presents a case study…

The Reintegration Academy was founded in 2009. It was the first program of its kind in the United States to bring a group of parolees to a college campus for an extended period for academic programming. Since its inception, the Reintegration Academy has collaborated with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Division of…

This follow-up study aimed to examine (a) the impact of 4.5 years participation in postsecondary education (PSE) on students with intellectual disability (ID) compared to adults with ID who did not participate in PSE, (b) whether a different impact on crystallized and fluid intelligence after 4.5 years would be found among PSE students with higher…

Over the past decade, Tennessee has invested in several policies addressing the educational attainment of adult learners. One of these policies, Tennessee Reconnect, is a last-dollar scholarship for eligible adults to attend community college free of tuition and mandatory fees. In 2021, two community colleges participated in a year-long pilot…

The purpose of this study was to explore adult education students' perspectives on the availability and helpfulness of instructional and testing accommodations and out-of-classroom supports and services. Drawing upon elements of pragmatic perspectives (Cherryholmes, 1992; Morgan, 2007), this study sought to identify and analyze the need for…

This study examines the role Google Calendar has in improving Self-Regulated Learning (SRL), planning, and time management in post-secondary students with intellectual disabilities (ID). Individuals with ID experience difficulties in executive functioning (EF) skills, such as reasoning, problem-solving, planning, abstract thinking, judgment,…

Although some of the issues facing adult literacy students are multifarious and answers may seem out of reach, it is important for practitioners of adult literacy programs to initiate strategies and explore viable options that address persistence. The purpose of this discussion is to share best practices of a large adult literacy program and…