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Non-traditional students include adults who have been downsized at work and are creating new careers.  Others are housewives who are coming back to education after years of taking care of their families and homes.  Some students need certain courses in order to move up in their jobs - or to hold onto their jobs.  Still other non-traditional students have been mandated by various assistance programs to either work or obtain an education within a certain time limit.  There are all kinds of reasons for adults to come back to school.

What do all of these students have in common?  Fear. They are afraid they will not fit in; they are afraid they have been out of school too long; they are afraid they won't succeed.

This fear may manifest itself in anger, sadness, inertia, an "attitude" problem, or overcompensation.

Responsibilities

These students have often suffered set-backs and heartaches.  They have responsibilities that most recent high school graduates have not yet experienced.  With demands from spouses, and/or children, and/or jobs, they have problems balancing their schedules.  With demands on their limited resources from paying for housing, food, utilities, daycare, transportation, books, tuition, etc. they may also have problems managing their money.   They encounter problems with their childcare sitters - often at the last minute.   They may also have transportation problems.

Highly Motivated Students

However, most non-traditional students are highly motivated.  They know it is up to them to make their lives better.  As a tutor, you can help them reinforce the relationship between (1) successfully completing each course, (2) which will help them meet their educational goals, (3) which will lead to their new career, their new promotion, and/or their transition from assistance to the workforce.

Letting these non-traditional students know they are not alone, that there is an obtainable goal, and that they are the ones who are creating these changes in their own lives, can often help give these students the confidence, determination, and encouragement they need to persevere.

Tutoring Suggestions

The following are some suggestions to make working with non-traditional students more productive:

• Use appropriate reinforcement.
• Show a genuine interest.
• Respect their past experience, but do not allow this to be an excuse for poor performance.
• Model time management skills.
• Be empathetic.
• Relate information to known experience.
• Use tutoring time wisely.  Remember, their time is usually very valuable.

Related Links

• ANTSHE - Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education
• Parent Soup