A Team Approach to Recruiting and Retaining Adult Learners

1
A Team Approach to Recruiting and Retaining
Adult Learners

• Presented by Penn State Hazleton
• Sally McGuire, Director of Continuing Education
• Dwayne Hilton, Director of Student and Enrollment
  Services
• Ursula Grossi, Adult Learner Services Coordinator
• Jane Waitkus, Instructor and Coordinator of the
  Teaching and Learning Resource Center
• Shannon Richie, Reference

2
Introduction

• Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner
  Dwayne Hilton
• Recruitment of Prospective Adult Learners Ursula
  Grossi
• Services for the Enrolled Adult Learner
• -Jane Waitkus and Shannon Richie
• Marketing to the Adult Learner
• Sally McGuire

3
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Campus Demographics
• Enrollment Numbers (2000 2007)
• Enrollment
• 1377, 1232
• Minority Enrollment
• 130 (9), 254 (20)
• Non-PA Enrollment
• 174 (13) 323 (27)
• Adult Enrollment
• 101 (7), 98 (8)

4
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Baccalaureate Programs Available for Adult
  Learners
• Information Science and Technology
• Business
• Liberal Arts
• Organizational Leadership (OLEAD)
• Applied Psychology

5
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Associate Degrees Available for Adult Learners
• Physical Therapy Assistant
• Medical Lab Technology
• Letters, Arts Sciences (2 LAS)
• Electrical Engineering Technology
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Nano Fabrication Technology
• Information Science and Technology

6
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Recent Recruitment Initiatives
• Include Adult Learners in all prospective student
  mailings
• Created Linkages so that the adult learners are
  included in all admissions functions
• Update Admissions website to promote adult
  learner Information Sessions
• Created an admissions communication Campaign to
  produce weekly adult learner reports
• Developed a referral mechanism so that the Adult
  Services Coordinator receives timely contact
  info

7
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Recruitment Adult Learners (Prospects)
• Personal Contact
• Correspondence
• Maintaining a file (record) on Prospects
• Follow-up
• Update and Maintain Adult Learner campus website
• Conduct a New Student Orientation Program for
  Adults

8
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Retention
• Mentor Program
• Monthly Adult Learner Focused Programs
• Such as --Writing a Research Paper, How to
  Manage Stress, The Computer and You
• Adult Learner Newsletter
• Representation on Student Government

9
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Customized Academic Support for Adult Learners
• Teaching and Learning Resource Center
• Offer Tutorial Support
• Match adult learners with adult tutors
• Provide Study Rooms
• Host adult learner study groups
• Operate Writing Center
• Math anxiety DVD

10
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Research Paper Workshop
• Comfortable, friendly space to meet between
  classes
• Computers and printer for group projects

11
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• The Library and the Adult Learner
• Commission for Adult Learners Grant (1999-2000)
  Upgrade career collection items specifically for
  adult learners
• Formation of Alpha Sigma Lambda (2003-2004)
• Partnered to receive a CALS grant to begin an
  ASL Chapter at Hazleton

12
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Partnered (2007) with the campus Teaching and
  Learning Resource Center to receive a CALS grant
  focusing on adult learners and research paper
  construction
• Serve as exam proctor for World Campus and
  Distance Education Students

13
Penn State Hazleton and the Adult Learner

• Marketing to the Adult Learner
• It Shows Adult Learner Advertising Campaign
• Newspaper, radio, TV, Webpage, Brochures,
  Billboards
• A satisfied customer