Adult Ed SLP One - Research Paper Example

Challenges Faced by s in the Post Secondary Education Adults moving into post secondary education are exposed to several challenges that not only affect their academic performance, but also decline their ability to actively participate in the post secondary programs. Owing to these challenges, “[o]ver 60 percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 25 and 64 had no postsecondary education credential in 2004” (Chao, DeRocco, and Flynn, 2007, p. 2). It is anticipated that the demographic shifts are likely to increase the gap between the job demands and qualifications of the candidates, thus causing the shortage of skilled workers to reach 9 million by the year 2014.

Challenges faced by institutions in the post secondary education include lack of an effective transition, poor perceptions of adult learners, disintegration of entities involved in the system, lack of research and funding, and low participation. Adults moving into the post secondary education require a reliable navigation system in order to be able to select the appropriate programs that would help them identify their career pathways, achieve their goals, and get connected to the right institutions.

There are some adult learners who do not think that they are college material because of their perceptions of going to the college when they are adults. Launch of a national communications and marketing campaign might help eradicate this stigma and facilitate them in the identification of career pathways. One of the most significant challenges of institutions in the post secondary education in the present age is that various entities that are involved in it that include but are not limited to the employers, philanthropic entities, college administration, and government are disintegrated.

There has been some research about the success of adult learners and graduates, but an effort to consolidate the findings of these studies in a central location yet needs to be made. A considerable population of students leaves education after the secondary level because of a number of reasons including the fear of racism, bullying, high college fees, and the financial burden and pressure from the family to start working and making money as soon as possible. Data on the transition of the learners of adult basic education (ABE) to the post secondary education is limited, that indicates that not many ABE learners enroll in the post secondary programs.

According to the data collected by the Department of Education’s National Reporting System, about 48,350 adults had enrolled in the post secondary education in the year between 2002 and 2003, which is roughly 20 per cent of the total number of adults who had expressed the obtainment of post secondary education as a goal in that year (Alamprese, n.d., p. 2). Entities involved in the post secondary education need to join to develop a model which places emphasis upon the development of curriculum and workforce according to the specific local needs.

More research is required in many areas related to adult learning in post secondary education “including IPEDS data collection adapted to adult learners, state and national policy audits, adult learner perspectives, the value of a college degree or credential, and adult financial aid needs” (Lumina Foundation, 2011). Transition of the adult learners to post secondary education imparts the need for a shift in the state policy along with the development of more systematic processes in the post secondary program.

Policies and procedures are required on both the state and federal level in support of the enhanced curriculum, and formation of collaborative relationships among the various entities involved in the process.References:Alamprese, J. (n.d.). Helping Adult Learners Make The Transition To Postsecondary Education. pp. 1-12. Retrieved from http://www.abtassociates.com/reports/transitionfnl110405.pdf. Chao, E. L., DeRocco, E. S., and Flynn, M. K. (2007, March). Adult Learners in Higher Education: Barriers to Success and Strategies to Improve Results.

Retrieved from http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/Adult%20Learners%20in%20Higher%20Education%20-%20Barriers%20to%20Success%20and%20Strategies%20to%20Improve%20Results.pdf. Lumina Foundation. (2011, Oct. 18). Focusing on Adult Learners in Postsecondary Education: Responding to the Challenge in a New Age. Retrieved from http://www.luminafoundation.org/convenings/adultlearners.html.