Helping Students Across the Finish Line: The Possibilities of Reengaging College Students

• In Event: Equality and Diversity in an International Context

Abstract

The purpose of this scholarly paper is to review and assess the emerging international need to reengage students who started but did not complete college or university (some college, no degree [SCND]). We draw primarily from work in the United States and Australia, where there are policies and programs underway to reengage former college and university students. The paper describes the nature of the SCND population and assesses it from an equity lens, describes barriers students leaving and returning to college, evaluates existing reengagement policies, and offers recommendations to reengage the SCND population. This comparative analysis of reengagement needs and efforts can help policy development in multiple international contexts.

Authors

• Jason L. Taylor, University of Utah

• Andrew Harvey, La Trobe University

• Michael Luckman, La Trobe University