Adult Learners, the Internet, and the Support Service Challenge

The past 15 years have seen an incredible growth in adult enrollment, much of it fueled by the expansion of online learning and enhanced accessibility, so it has become essential for postsecondary institutions to develop and adopt creative adult learner strategies to stand out from the competition. These strategies, however, must be organic and flexible because of the unique lifestyles and experiences that adult students bring to the learning experience. In addition, adult learners tend to be more female and minority than the general student population (Eduventures, 2013). In a competitive world, the academic and student affairs practitioners charged with the implementation of these strategies must be knowledgeable about the tactics and tools that will facilitate the success of online adult learners.