• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Changing U.S. Economy Driving Older Americans Back to College

Posted on: Friday, 28 October 2005, 21:00 CDT

By Daily Record Staff Reports

The loss of blue-collar jobs and the growing sophistication of the U.S. economy are driving legions of older Americans back to colleges and universities for training. The surge in nontraditional students is, in turn, forcing institutions of higher education to change their ways.

To examine what Maryland's colleges and universities are doing to keep the state's economy in qualified workers, The Daily Record picked the brains of Leslie Stevenson of the University of Baltimore and Patricia Turnbaugh of Villa Julie College.

How long have you been in higher education? In what capacity? In your opinion, what's the biggest change in higher ed since you've been involved?

Stevenson: I've been employed in the higher education field since 1995 in a variety of career services roles (career counselor, coordinator of career initiatives for diverse populations, employer services team leader, career course instructor, and career center director). Prior to my work in career services, I worked in a student activities office where I advised student groups and managed a 700-seat campus movie theater/special event venue.

In my opinion, there have been many significant changes in higher education during the past 10 years. Some notable changes include varying levels of parental and familial involvement in student and campus life; differing career prospects for graduates depending on economic trends; and increased competition (both for students seeking college admission and universities competing for resources).

Perhaps one of the most far-reaching changes has been the increased reliance on technology in all facets of higher education. Entire courses are taught online and many in-person courses use online sites to provide supplemental course material or facilitate class discussions. Ten years ago in my former office, we very rarely used e-mail or online meetings. Now, many of my colleagues have the majority of their communication take place via e-mail.

In addition, nearly all student transactions (application, financial aid, course registration, etc.) are computer-assisted. Here's a good example from my functional area. Until the late 1990s, many career centers advertised employer opportunities in a booklet and then collected hard-copy student resumes.

After the resumes were collected, the documents were mailed or faxed to employers. Employers selected students to interview and mailed the names of their selections back to career centers. Students then visited career centers to see if they were selected to interview and to sign up for an interview time.

The entire process took an approximately four weeks and consumed an inordinate amount of staff time. The system wasn't flexible and couldn't accommodate last-minute adjustments. Now, virtually every career center handles this process online. It can be completed in a matter of days, uses less staff time, and is very flexible.

Turnbaugh: I've been in higher education for 20 years as a full- time employee and five years as a part-time instructor, serving as a full-time faculty member for eight years and as an administrator for 12 years. I have been involved in business administration programs during most of my academic tenure, so the changes I notice are primarily in that field.

The proliferation of courses necessary to provide appropriate instruction in the rapidly evolving business environment is the biggest change that I've noticed and experienced. Twenty years ago, a complement of 10 courses could cover most essential business functions at the undergraduate level. Today, it's difficult to do with 20 courses. A significant general change is the desire of students to be more actively involved in the selection of the components of their degrees. They want choices!

The U.S. economy has less and less use for workers without college educations and other types of sophisticated training. What impact has this had on your institution?

Stevenson: I believe the University of Baltimore, like many institutions, has benefited from workers' recognition of the importance of lifelong learning. Many employers sponsor their employees' education and we also have many students who choose to continue their education to advance their careers. Our courses combine theory with practical applications, so students know that they have the opportunity to apply what they've learned.

Turnbaugh: The expanding need for a college education has led to a significant increase in enrollment and Villa Julie's emphasis on a career-focused educational experience that includes courses in liberal arts, science, and technology. Changes in the economy have also supported the development of more specialized courses within a program. For example, our business administration major has added courses in international management and international marketing.

Because of economic changes, older Americans are headed back to colleges in droves. What challenges do they face that traditional 18- to 21-year-old students do not? What is your institution doing to help them?

Stevenson: Juggling competing priorities is the main challenge we see with older students. At UB, many of our students work full- time, take a full course load, and have active family lives. Finding time to complete homework, participate in internships or get involved in campus activities is extremely difficult. As a result, you often find that many nontraditional-aged students are very focused and engaged in the learning. They also tend to manage their time very well.

Of all the institutions that I've been affiliated with, the University of Baltimore does the best job of meeting the needs of adult students. Evening, weekend and online classes are designed to be convenient for students' busy schedules. Campus services are also open at nontraditional hours to assist students. Our office even offers Live Chat career advising for students who want quick career advice but don't have the time to visit our office.

Turnbaugh: One of the first challenges older Americans face is the fact that they are out of the student mode. They haven't engaged in academic study for many years and some of their skills may be rusty. It often takes some time to learn how to be a student, how to study for a test, and how to write a research paper again.

A second challenge may be their unfamiliarity with technology. Computer and Internet use is now intensive and extensive. Many older Americans are initially intimidated by this.

A third challenge is budgeting time for work, family, and school. Many academic schedules don't easily accommodate these demands. My institution helps older students overcome these challenges through a separate division devoted to the education of these nontraditional students. This division provides advising, scheduling and instruction specifically designed to meet the needs of this population.

What role should institutions of higher education play in feeding and developing the economy, if any?

Stevenson: Higher education institutions play a vital role in feeding the economic engine of cities and states. Colleges and universities are active members of their communities and students, faculty and staff members patronize and support area businesses. In the long term, these institutions prepare leaders who enter the work force, create businesses and support charitable causes. The University of Baltimore's Jacob France Institute provides excellent research that compares earnings before and following job-related training.

Turnbaugh: Higher education is a major player in the economy. We are big business whether we are a private not-for-profit institution, a state institution or a private for-profit institution. For higher education to thrive, it must play a role in economic development. However, the nature of that role may vary greatly.

Some research-oriented institutions may define their role in terms of the development of new products; some teaching institutions may define their role in terms of educating the work force to meet emerging demands; some institutions move in the direction of a social/public service role.

If you could make any change at your institution, regardless of money, what would it be and why?

Stevenson: This is the toughest question. If money were no object, I'd invest in more space (residence halls, classrooms, parking) and more faculty and staff. At 5:30 p.m. on our campus, there are no empty classrooms and parking is at a premium. To go along with the new space to accommodate more students, we'd need to have more staff members available to meet students' needs. Fortunately, we have a new student center opening in the next two months, so our students should be very pleased with our new student organization offices and lounge areas.

Turnbaugh: I would recommend moving the institution from a college to a university status. I believe this change would allow more specialized attention to specific academic programs and their unique needs through the reorganization into schools or divisions. Surveys indicate that high-school students and their parents often prefer an institution that is called a university when they evaluate and select a school - even if they're not sure what the difference is. Development opportunities may be significantly enhanced with university status.

Leslie Stevenson

School: University of Baltimore

Title: Director of The Career Center

Home: Owings Mills, (moved to the area three years ago - originally from the Eastern Shore of Virginia)

Family: Married Milroy Stevenson on June 25, 2005

Hobbies: Reading, mentoring

Favorite way to spend a Saturday away from campus: Relaxing with family and friends; attending dinner parties or book club meetings

Patricia Turnbaugh

Age: 60

School: Villa Julie College

Title: Director of the Division of Business and Legal Studies

Home: Baltimore City

Family: Husband, two children

Hobbies: Doing nothing

Favorite way to spend a Saturday: Engaging in my hobby

Source: The Daily Record (Baltimore)

More News in this Category