Adult Workers as Learners in the USA Higher Education Landscape

Abstract

In the midst of a turbulent work economy, higher education is challenged to also embrace an evolving demographic landscape and expectations to respond to innovative knowledge demands. Given these challenges, higher education must rethink its mission, its targeted student clientele and enhance its services, with a specific focus on adult undergraduate students who more often are workers as well as students. Using the framework of the USA scene, current statistics regarding adult student participation and the complex landscape of adult higher education are explored. The second half of this chapter will focus upon current and future policy reforms for access and support of these adult learners, examining formal, nonformal and informal education and the currency of collegiate credit and certificates within the USA workforce, as well as the broader role of reframing higher education within the lifelong learning context.