East Carolina University: SUPPORTING ADULT LEARNERS

Press release from East Carolina University:

ECU News Services

2022-02-11

East Carolina University is poised to build on its success of educating non-traditional students with a focus on expanding support and options for adult learners.

Chancellor Philip Rogers hosted a strategic discussion on adult learners with the ECU Board of Trustees, which met Thursday and Friday in the Main Campus Student Center.

Rogers stressed the importance of adult learners to ECU and the contributions they make to the university as a whole. He cited statistics that show almost 60% of enrolled undergraduates across the nation are considered non-traditional students, many of whom care for dependents, work full time while enrolled, or are connected to the military.

The shift is just one in the changing landscape of U.S. higher education, requiring ECU to position itself to respond to emerging challenges, he said.

“We’ve talked often as a board and a university about how higher education is evolving before our very eyes,” Rogers said. “That change was not unpredictable, and it’s taking many forms: technology-enabled change; budget pressures; mental health; social and political dynamics; and one developing trend that often hits home the hardest is the dramatic demographic shift in our country driving unprecedented enrollment impacts.”

ECU is working aggressively to offset forecasted enrollment declines by making strategic financial investments in three high-demand academic programs this year — criminal justice, nursing and educational leadership. The university is also investing in digital tools to enhance yield and grow highly-sought online programs to capture new student markets. Finally, similar efforts are underway to develop industry-desired credential programs that will support learners of all stages of life, Rogers said.

“That is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “But perhaps even more important than what I’ve just shared is an understanding that higher ed itself is changing the narrative around where our focus and energy should really be aimed — which is toward a value-based, return on investment, demonstration of a relentless pursuit of student success.”

During the Thursday panel, Rogers said enhancing the pathways to the university can create seamless transitions for adult learners who can transform not only their lives but the entire region through the career changes or job advancement that an ECU education can bring them.

Student Lindsey Richardson attended community colleges and ECU early in her academic career.

“Life happens,” she said, noting the birth of two children and caring for a parent. She’s back at ECU after a five-year absence and is set to graduate this summer with a degree in university studies.

“This is my time,” she said, adding she “wants a career, not just a job.”

Cory Page came to ECU with credits from four colleges and experience as a hospital corpsman and paramedic after his years in the Marine Corps. His goal is to become a physician assistant and he cited the support and education he has received from professors.

“I love everything about this campus,” he said.

The panel discussion focused on available resources at ECU, such as Student Veteran Services, as well as potential barriers for adult learners, such as a lack of flexible class scheduling options and child daycare.

Also Thursday, trustees learned more about a UNC System strategic initiative — Project Kitty Hawk — aimed at addressing the needs of North Carolina’s adult learners through distance education. Rogers is one of three chancellors named to the planning board for the project, which is expected to go live in two to three years.

Project Kitty Hawk is one of three key system initiatives that will impact ECU. The others are strategic planning and a new proposed funding formula for all UNC System schools. The formula would encourage performance and student success over its current focus on enrollment growth. More details are expected at the next ECU Board of Trustees meeting April 28-29.

Following a closed session during Friday’s full board meeting, trustees unanimously approved:

Also Friday, the board approved by consent agenda:

During committee meetings Thursday:

This press release was produced by East Carolina University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.