Distance Education & Access to Higher Education Examining the experiences of nontraditional students 5/09 Halona Y. Agouda, M.Ed. Doctoral Student George Mason University [email_address]

Does distance ed provide access to higher ed & post-secondary training for nontraditional students? ACCESS Physical Academic Support Services Financial Support

ACCESS

Physical

Academic Support Services

Financial Support

Who is the nontraditional student? AGE: 25 yrs and older RISK FACTORS Lapse btw HS graduation & starting college Part-time college enrollment Lack of financial support from parents Full-time job Caretaker of kids or other dependants Single parent Lack of high school diploma or GED

AGE: 25 yrs and older

RISK FACTORS

Lapse btw HS graduation & starting college

Part-time college enrollment

Lack of financial support from parents

Full-time job

Caretaker of kids or other dependants

Single parent

Lack of high school diploma or GED

Nontraditional Students & Distance Ed College enrollment in distance ed growing: 2.3 million in 2004 3.2 million in 2005 Distance ed appeals to busy students who have competing priorities

College enrollment in distance ed growing:

2.3 million in 2004

3.2 million in 2005

Distance ed appeals to busy students who have competing priorities

How does the higher ed system view distance education? Increases access for students who would not come to campus because of: Work & family obligations Location Disabilities

Increases access for students who would not come to campus because of:

Work & family obligations

Location

Disabilities

My views Distance ed offers a viable opportunity to participate in higher ed, however Does distance ed offer wide & equal access for all? Is offering access sufficient?

Distance ed offers a viable opportunity to participate in higher ed, however

Does distance ed offer wide & equal access for all?

Is offering access sufficient?

Physical Access Need broadband to fully participate in online learning Rural residents with broadband = 24.7% Urban residents with broadband = 40.4% Those with broadband use it daily Many urban residents claim broadband is too expensive Only 22.6% of workers aged 25-60 with 1+ disabilities has broadband

Need broadband to fully participate in online learning

Rural residents with broadband = 24.7%

Urban residents with broadband = 40.4%

Those with broadband use it daily

Many urban residents claim broadband is too expensive

Only 22.6% of workers aged 25-60 with 1+ disabilities has broadband

Academic Support Services Online learning support services important for student success Teachers not comfortable with online technologies Resources for online ed are put into the technology, not training for teachers and students

Online learning support services important for student success

Teachers not comfortable with online technologies

Resources for online ed are put into the technology, not training for teachers and students

Financial Support 75% of students work, while financial aid supports the remaining 25% Little aid available exclusively for online students Financial aid is complicated particularly for those who are working poor or middle class

75% of students work, while financial aid supports the remaining 25%

Little aid available exclusively for online students

Financial aid is complicated particularly for those who are working poor or middle class

What does this mean for higher education? Attrition rates in distance ed is 10% to 20% higher than classroom courses Claims of access to higher ed for nontraditional students are incomplete Need to widen the discussion to how distance ed can be used to help students persist in higher ed

Attrition rates in distance ed is 10% to 20% higher than classroom courses

Claims of access to higher ed for nontraditional students are incomplete

Need to widen the discussion to how distance ed can be used to help students persist in higher ed