Goal Statement

• Eliminate barriers to non-traditional students seeking higher education. 

Policy Options / Program Models   

• Model Program - Federal Childcare Student Loan
• Model Program - Emporia State University  

Key Organizations / Individuals

• Association of Nontraditional Students in Higher Education
• National Women's Law Center

Issue Briefs  

• Access to Higher Education for Non-Traditional Students - USA

• Access to Higher Education for Non-Traditional Students - Kansas

• Access to Higher Education for Non-Traditional Students - Topeka, KS

Glossary of Terms

• The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) cites defines seven characteristics of a nontraditional student.  A nontraditional student is one who:
  • delays enrollment(does not entering postsecondary education right after high school)
  • attends part time;
  • works full time (35 hours a week or more);
  • is financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid
  • has dependents other than a spouse (usually children, but sometimes others)
  • is a single parent;
  • does not have a high school diploma (has completed high school with a GED or other nontraditional diploma or has not finished high school). 

Bibliography

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics comparison of income levels based on education level.

Related Information

• NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS - "Can’t live with them; Can’t live without them" FASTeam PresentationApril 30, 2007 Presented by Peg O’Brien

• Parents as Students: Assessing the Childcare Needs of Nontraditional Students at Minnesota State University, Mankato powerpoint presentation listing many valuable figures.

• The University of New Orleans specializes in serving Non-Traditional Students.

• The National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers (NCCCC) is a nonprofit educational membership organization.

• National Women's Law Center's testimony of TANF and childcare.
• Center for American Progress's article "Working Families Can't Wait". 
• Promoting Economic Mobility by Increasing Postsecondary Education
• Women in Government's publication with the article "Supporting Non-Traditional Students" by Cynthia Zafft, Coordinator, National College Transition Network World Education, Inc.