Proposal for recruitment and/or orientation of the non-traditional student at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

Abstract

This study examined the recruiting and orientation policies of selected post-secondary institutions as these policies relate to the non-traditional student. The information gained from the 96% questionnaire return was utilized in preparation of a proposal for recruitment and/or orientation of the adult part-time student at the University of Wisconsin ? La Crosse. The hypotheses were: 1) that the direct contact method of recruitment is more successful than is the mass media approach, and, 2) that the adult learner requires an orientation to post-secondary education which is different from that designed for the traditional age student. Employing a mailed questionnaire 50, four-year, public institutions, all members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, were polled to discover their recruitment, admission, registration, class scheduling, academic policies, financial aid, fees, and orientations policies. The results suggest that the polled institutions use a combination of mass media, direct contact, and special projects in recruiting the adult student. The direct contact approach was deemed to be the most successful method (47% of the votes), 29% cited mass media most successful, while 20% considered special projects most successful. The questionnaire responses as well as related literature, support the hypothesis that there is a need for a specially designed orientation program. These findings were all utilized in a proposal for the University of Wisconsin ? La Crosse. This proposal consists of: 1) A video tape-recorded panel discussion of six presently enrolled adult students who present their ?eye view? of the University policies; 2) A description of a suggested slide/narrative presentation designed for the older student; 3) Expansion of the non-traditional student organization; and, 4) The staffing of a coordinator for non-traditional students who would also recruit and orient adults to the University.