While nontraditional students are a growing population in colleges and universities today, their presence can also be seen throughout history. National policies and practices throughout United States history enabled a more diverse population of students to enter higher education, thus increasing the nontraditional student population. In this historical literature review, I examine four time periods in which nontraditional students persisted and the unique services and support offered to them. Common among the four time periods were three ways that nontraditional students were supported historically: institutions (1) awarded credit for nonacademic activities, (2) increased flexibility in their policies and procedures, and (3) provided resources specific to nontraditional students’ needs. While policies have allowed greater numbers of nontraditional students to enter higher education, admitting these students does not guarantee their retention and degree completion. Therefore, this manuscript offers suggestions, taken from historical trends, for how institutions can continue to support current and future nontraditional students. Although institutions today are certainly more aware, understanding, and inclusive of diverse students’ needs, lessons from history can still be used to make improvements. Examining past students, services, and practices may help to improve future policies and attainment strategies for this diverse population of students in higher education.

中文翻译：

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非传统学生在高等教育中的服务和支持：历史文献回顾

尽管当今非传统学生在大学和大学中的人数正在增长，但在整个历史中也可以看到他们的存在。整个美国历史上的国家政策和实践使更多种类的学生可以接受高等教育，从而增加了非传统的学生人数。在这篇历史文献综述中，我考察了非传统学生坚持的四个时间段以及向他们提供的独特服务和支持。在这四个时间段中，常见的是从历史上为非传统学生提供三种支持方式：机构（1）为非学术活动授予学分;（2）增加其政策和程序的灵活性;（3）提供特定于非传统学生需求的资源。尽管政策允许更多的非传统学生进入高等教育，但是录取这些学生并不能保证他们的保留和学位完成。因此，该手稿提供了一些来自历史趋势的建议，以帮助院校如何继续支持当前和未来的非传统学生。尽管当今的机构当然更加了解，理解并涵盖了不同学生的需求，但历史教训仍然可以用来进行改进。对过往的学生，服务和实践进行检查可能有助于改善针对这一多样化的高等教育学生的未来政策和成就策略。取材于历史趋势，了解机构如何继续支持当前和未来的非传统学生。尽管当今的机构当然更加了解，理解并涵盖了不同学生的需求，但历史教训仍然可以用来进行改进。对过往的学生，服务和实践进行检查可能有助于改善针对这一多样化的高等教育学生的未来政策和成就策略。取材于历史趋势，了解机构如何继续支持当前和未来的非传统学生。尽管当今的机构肯定会更加了解，理解并涵盖各种学生的需求，但历史教训仍然可以用来进行改进。对过往的学生，服务和实践进行检查可能有助于改善针对这一多样化的高等教育学生的未来政策和成就策略。