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I. Mapping the Market Where Adults Fit Into the Educational Landscape

A. Different Students, Different Needs

Many adults assume that they are not qualified for college if they haven't finished high school or taken college prep courses, have no money, have been away from school for a while or don't speak English well. Ann Cole Consortium For Higher Education - Boston	Facts on U.S.Workers: I More than 3/4 are high school graduates I Almost 40% have had at least one year of college I A greater % of young people in the U.S. go to college than in any other nation.
Though Americans are, on average, a well educated populace, changes in our economy have occurred rapidly and to such a degree that the general education of past decades is no longer sufficient. Many adults will return to school to prepare themselves for the changing world of work. Adults returning to school generally fit into one of the following categories: Adults come to fulfill their life long goal of getting a college degree. These are people who may have had other life commitments after high school but who now feel the need for higher education. They generally have had little or no college experience and return to school to obtain their first bachelor's degree. Life changes such as unemployment, divorce, or the need for a second income make many realize that higher education may offer them new opportunities. Adults return to sharpen outdated skills. These include people in professions such as law, dentistry, medicine, business and education, who enter continuing education courses to keep abreast of technical changes. These students often find their current employers will fund part or all of their education. Some businesses offer company sponsored on-site training; other may reimburse the employee for the cost of training once the student completes classes at the local community college or university.
Of all the new jobs now being created, more than half will require education beyond high school, and almost a third will be filled by college graduates.... The fastest-growing jobs will require much higher math, language, and reasoning capabilities than current jobs.... Jobs that are currently in the middle of the skill distribution will be the least-skilled occupations of the future, and there will be very few net new jobs for the unskilled.
Adults return to school to explore new career choices. With changes in the economy, many traditional jobs are offering fewer employment opportunities or have disappeared altogether. Those that remain are requiring greater skills in math, language and reasoning capabilities. Statistics show that most employees will explore an average of four different careers during a life-time. The ability to learn will be the most valuable trait of future employees. We have not even conceived of many future jobs. Highly valuable employees of the future will keep ready for change by becoming life-long learners. Adults who are recreational learners consider education a life-long necessity and enter continuing education to pursue a personal interest. They will sometimes look to the non-credit courses offered by community colleges or at recreational centers to fill their needs. Programs such as Elder Hostel and other adult education classes may serve these students by planning flexible offerings and schedueles tailored to a diversity of interest and needs.

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