Date of Award
3-24-2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Amany Saleh
Committee Members
Audrey Bowser; Jill Simons; Kimberley Davis; Kris Biondillio
Call Number
LD 251 .A566d 2020 N47
Abstract
The number of adult learners entering or returning to higher education institutions has increased tremendously in recent years. Through this growth and change in student demographic, traditional non-profit four-year universities have begun to invest in online degree programs to become more accessible and provide another avenue for adult learners to pursue their educational goals. The purpose of this study was to explore the undergraduate experiences of adult learners enrolled in online degree programs at traditional non-profit universities to improve the way these higher institutions address the needs of this student population. Specifically, the study explored adult learners’ perceived challenges and successes, student support services needed for this population to persist, and the effectiveness of online degree programs for career attainment or advancement. A survey research design was chosen to investigate the self-perception of experiences of adult learners. Participants chosen for this research were enrolled in online degree programs at five public traditional non-profit universities. Survey data were based on a sample of 161 adult learners, ages 25 and above, who were entering or returning to higher education to pursue a degree. According to the perspectives of the participants in this study, adult learners face some common challenges in a variety of online degree programs, but still perceive that earning an online degree from a traditional university holds value in relation to gaining employment or career advancement. Overall, the research findings will help assess the needs of adult learners and any challenges that may impede their persistence in obtaining a degree.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Nesbitt, Nikesha, "Changing Of the Guard: Exploring Adult Learners' Experiences in Higher Education Online Degree Programs at Traditional Non-Profit Universities" (2021). Student Theses and Dissertations. 336.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/336
