ABSTRACT

Universities are experiencing shifts in age distributions of students, with fewer younger students and an increase in the number of people mid-life and beyond seeking education and job training. Thus, there are strong arguments for universities to embrace opportunities to increase age-diversity on campus. This qualitative study explores the challenges, opportunities, and strategies related to university age-diversity from the perspective of Admissions and Career Services staff from one midwestern university. From focus group data, six subthemes were identified as challenges (fitting in; acclimating; stressors; career concerns; return on investment; and ageism/undervaluing age diversity), three subthemes were identified as assets (intentionality; experienced students; and age diverse educational settings) and eight strategies were recommended to better serve an age-diversity student body (support groups; familial supports; social opportunities; job placement; financial aid; targeted outreach; flexibility in learning; and staff support). This article discusses the benefits and challenges of serving older students from the perspective of staff and administrators and provides action steps for universities to promote age-diversity on campus.

摘要

大学正在经历学生年龄分布的变化，年轻学生减少，中年及以后寻求教育和工作培训的人数增加。因此，有强烈的论据支持大学抓住机会增加校园的年龄多样性。这项定性研究从一所中西部大学的招生和职业服务人员的角度探讨了与大学年龄多样性相关的挑战、机遇和策略。从焦点小组数据中，六个子主题被确定为挑战（适应；适应；压力源；职业问题；投资回报；年龄歧视/低估年龄多样性），三个子主题被确定为资产（意向性；有经验的学生；和年龄不同的教育环境）和八种策略被推荐，以更好地服务于不同年龄的学生群体（支持团体；家庭支持；社交机会；工作安置；经济援助；有针对性的外展；学习的灵活性；和员工支持）。本文从教职员工和行政人员的角度讨论了为年长学生服务的好处和挑战，并为大学提供了促进校园年龄多样性的行动步骤。