Advising Experiences and Needs of Online, Cohort, and Classroom Adult Graduate Learners

Abstract

Although a majority of graduate students fall under the definition of adult learners (over age 24 years), many traditional institutions do not offer advising specific to them, nor do they recognize advising needs of these older students in online, classroom, or cohort situations. In this phenomenological study, 9 adult graduate learners were interviewed, 3 from each learning environment, to understand and explain the perceived advising needs and experiences within and among learning environments. Findings suggest that adult learners, regardless of learning environment, require complex and holistic advising. Five themes of good graduate advising are discussed. The need for immediate advisor response varied with respect to participants' learning environments. Implications for practice are discussed.