Online Learning Can Be Successful

Well, the stats haven’t changed. Online classes still are seen as a wonderful option, but the persistence rate isn’t great.  Prior to COVID, students drop out of online classes at alarming rates, but now that COVID is our new normal, the stats aren’t looking any better. In 2011, Columbia released a study showing that well …

Before You Transfer . . .

I was sitting in my office when one of my students stormed in. She was in the last semester of her first year as an adult student and she was ready to transfer. As much as she loved her current college, another college offered a program of study that really interested. It was different from …

Caring for Student Parents

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research [IWPR], “nearly four million U.S. undergraduate college students are parents or guardians of children under the age of 18.” To break this down a bit further, more than 2 million community college students are parents and approximately 71% are mothers. We already know the pressure students are …

Yes, Go to Community College!

I remember the spring of my junior year and fall of my senior year of high school. It was time to choose what college I would attend.  I remember sitting in my English class (always second period) and over the course of a few months, various college counselors and former students who went on to …

168 Hours for Students

*Pdfs are at the end of the blog. I once had a student who would come to me for advising. I was always amazed and impressed with how organized she was; she taught me how to get better organized. This student always had her weekly schedule plastered to the front of her school binder. Many …

Take on an Internship

As you’re preparing for the next academic year, there’s one area that many non-traditional students do not consider: taking on an internship. For valid reasons, many adult students do not consider doing internships while getting their degrees. According to the EAB, about 58% of adult students work while going to college; more than 25% are …

Keep Your Mind Sharp

So, some of you are halfway through your summer school experience. Congratulations! However, some of your chose not to attend summer school. For many reasons, this is a great option as well. For many students, summer is the time to only focus on work. You’ve had to adjust your work schedule all year to accommodate …

Purpose Over Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bgyynh9egY Dr. Sydney Richardson at TEDx Winston-Salem Women Dear Students, As you work on your priorities over the summer and for the rest of the year, it's important to think of your why. Don't waste time doing things that do not benefit others or yourself. Have a purpose to everything. Keep moving forward and be …

Welcome to Summer School!

Okay, so last semester was rough!  Let’s face it- 2020 has been ROUGH, but you made it through. Now if you’re like many students across the world, you’ve just completed the first week of summer school. This post is for those of you who a) have never experienced collegiate summer school or b) have never …

If There Was Ever a Time for Open Education to Thrive . . .

*Header image from Bet_Noire, Getty Images/iStockphoto Calling all educators, administrators, policy makers, and lovers of education! Below is a guest post about online education by Dr. James T. Cook, Dean of the Center for Transformative Learning at Forsyth Technical Community College. Now's the time to think about open education for the future. Books spelling OPEN …

Try it Out!

Are you thinking about returning to school or starting college for the first time?  For many non-traditional students, deciding to enter the world of academia is a comprehensive decision-making process. Where to attend school? How much will it cost? Do I have the time to study? How do I balance work and school? Will the …

Dear Graduates . . .

People throwing up graduation caps. For some of you, you are taking your final exams and gearing up for a virtual graduation. For others, you have already experienced a virtual graduation. Let me take this time to say CONGRATULATIONS! You have truly done and experienced something no other class has experienced. You have transitioned to …

Fuel Your Journey

The following is a guest post by Dr. Pamela Hampton-Garland and her personal journey as a former adult/non-traditional student. To watch her interview, click here. Dr. Pamela Hampton-Garland Yesterday, I had an interesting reflective day and, I went back to a song that I cried to so many times because it touched a fearful nerve …

Doctoral Studies Checklist

Good day everyone, This one is for my doctoral students or those considering doctoral studies. The process of selecting a school, applying to a program, and then navigating the program can be incredibly overwhelming. According to Cassuto (2013), approximately 50% of doctoral students don't finish their degrees. According to Statistics Solutions (2019), about 56% of …

Start Your Business in College

Woman working, using computer and smiling while standing in workshop. Imagine the future. You get your college degree, say goodbye to your boss, and walk into your office at your own company. Those years of working for others helped you learn so much, and in the process you thought of new ways of doing things. …

Welcome to “The Adviser is In.”

Welcome to "The Adviser is In," the educational blog component of R.o.K. [http://www.raeofknowledge.com]. This blog is for the non-traditional or adult student heading into college life and trying to stay sane while doing it. This blog comes from 1) fifteen years in higher education, working with adult/non-traditional students (I switch between the two terms), and …

5 People You Need in Life

*This is an excerpt from my book, 13 Challenges. It was my first class in graduate school, and I was sitting among my peers, ready to learn. Our professor entered the classroom and gave us all an assignment. She said, “Tell me who’s a part of your support system.” While some classmates listed a number …