No Adult Left Behind: Prevalence of Student Affairs Practices Offering Social Support to Adult Undergraduates

• In Event: Embracing Nontraditional Experiences: What Institutions Can Do Differently

Abstract

This paper reports on the implementation of student affairs practices that offer social support to adult undergraduates at 57 four-year colleges and universities. We present new data suggesting that by failing to adopt adequate practices supportive of adult students, divisions of student affairs at four year colleges and universities may be losing an opportunity to improve outcomes for these adult students. We also find that the percentage of undergraduates in the student population has little relationship to the availability of services for these students. Thus, we argue that student affairs divisions hire staff with expertise in adult undergraduates, who could then establish offices with services tailored to the needs of these students.

Authors

• Rebecca Brower, Florida State University

• Bradley E. Cox, Florida State University