Slaying Emotional Monsters Strategies to Improve the Retention

Slaying Emotional Monsters Strategies to Improve the Retention of Adult Learners Ruby A. Rouse, Ph. D Debbie Ritter-Williams, Ph. D University of Phoenix Research Institute

Adult Student Retention (Milam, 2008)

Agenda • Identifying Emotional Monsters • Leveraging Sources of Support • Developing Your Battle Plan!

Identifying Emotional Monsters

Adult Student College Retention Survey (ASCRS) • • • 4, 446 students over the age of 22 1, 300 educational institutions Online survey Data collection spring and summer 2011 Focus of the study – Psychosocial issues – Sources of support – Retention

What is a psychosocial issue?

Top 10 Emotional Monsters Haunting Adult Students in College 71% Stressed about money spent on school 59% Stressed about time away from loved ones 52% Worried about their intellectual ability 49% Stressed by disruptions to their normal routine 42% Feared they need to prove their competence 40% Resented missing interesting activities 39% Stressed about time away from work 38% Felt practical experience was not valued in school 38% Felt uncertain about their academic goals 35% Felt unable to build relationships with other students X 1 st Strike X 2 nd Strike X 3 rd Strike X Other Team Strike

Leveraging Sources of Support

Who are the Heroes of Adult Students?

Most Effective Personal Sources of Support Spouse or significant other 78% Friends taking classes 68% Children 67% Friends not taking classes 47%

Most Effective School Sources of Support Faculty members Academic counselor Financial aid counselor 76% 64% 59% Academic department 56% Other students in class Dean of students 50% 48% Adult student services 45%

Most Effective Work Sources of Support Primary supervisor 61% Co-workers 53%

On-going Study of Adult Student Retention • • • 60 adult students Associate program Cohorted learning Longitudinal study Data collection 2010 -2012 Focus of the study – Retention – Social & Emotional Issues

Collaborative Partners • 78% Spouse/significant other • 76% Faculty members • 61% Primary supervisor

“Cheerleading” Peers • • 68% Friends taking classes 53% Co-workers 50% Other students in class 47% Friends not taking classes

Trusted Advisors • 64% Academic counselors • 59% Financial aid counselor • 56% Academic departments

Retention Rates

Thoughts about the Research?

Developing Your “Battle Plan”

Ready to “Test Your Might”?