Understanding and Supporting Adult Learners: A Guide for Colleges and Universities

Understanding and Supporting Adult Learners offers faculty and administrators a hands-on guide to the myriad issues adult learners face in their enrollment and participation in higher education. This comprehensive resource is filled with the analytical and practical skills that can help faculty make sound decisions relative to adult learners. The book also includes techniques and frameworks for assessing, implementing, and evaluating practices within the institution—at the classroom, department, school, and campus levels—to nurture and support responsiveness to adult learners.

Praise for Understanding and Supporting Adult Learners

"This timely book provides a clear road map for institutions to attract, retain, and graduate adult learners. It will provoke discussions among faculty and administrators on the best ways to serve and assess this important demographic."— John V. Moore III, associate director of institutional research, Temple University

"A must-read for everyone serving adults in higher education! The book's wonderfully insightful and provocative cases bring to life the real dilemmas facing adult learners and the institutions that support them. It provides an enlightened analysis of the issues and an effective framework for creating and improving programs that ensure the success of adult learners in higher education."— Tai Arnold, assistant vice president for academic programs, SUNY Empire State College

"This book is a must-read for community college faculty and administrators. Community college adult learners span several generations and even decades and bring different levels of learning skills and student support services needs. This is an excellent practical guide to addressing the varied needs and issues of the twenty-first century adult learner."— Christine Chairsell, vice president, Portland Community College

Frederic Jacobs is professor of education at American University in Washington, D.C. His research and teaching interests include the role, function, and impact of higher education; theory and practice in adult learning; public policy and education; and quantitative research.

Stephen P. Hundley is associate dean for academic affairs and undergraduate programs and associate professor of organizational leadership in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. His research and teaching interests include organizational effectiveness, human resource management, and higher education administration.