From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Non-traditional students is an American English term referring to students at higher education institutions (undergraduate college or university) who generally fall into two categories:

• Students who are older than the typical undergraduate college student (usually aged 17-23) and interupted their studies earlier in life
• Students typical of age but attending colleges or programs that provide unconventional scheduling to allow for other responsibilities and pursuits concurrent with attaining a degree.

Contents 1 Population 2 Programs 3 See also 4 External links

Older students may be returning to school for a number of different reasons: some pursued unconventional career paths while others are training for a career change; some may have had to wait to enter college due to military service, while others simply waited a few years instead of entering directly after high-school. Some women who have been stay-at-home mothers and return to college after their children begin kindergarten or have left the home.

Younger students of common college-age may be Olympians or professional athletes, actors, dancers, and other performers as well as other professions who choose to forgo the "traditional" college for a non-traditional course of study in order to facilitate or accommodate that career while pursuing a degree. Still other reasons may influence a younger student to pursue a non-traditional course of study - no justification is necessary to attend.

Programs for non-traditional students includes options for both full-time and part-time study. Many colleges offer programs within their regular curriculum to serve non-traditional students. In particular women's colleges offer programs for older women who would like to return to school, such as Agnes Scott College's Irene K. Woodruff return-to-college program, Mount Holyoke College's Frances Perkins Program, Smith College's Ada Comstock Scholars Program and Wellesley College's Davis Degree Program.

A few select degree-granting colleges are oriented entirely towards non-traditional students, such as the Fordham College of Liberal Studies at Fordham University and the School of General Studies at Columbia University.

• Mature student
• Continuing education
• Adult education

• Agnes Scott College: The Irene K. Woodruff return-to-college program
• Columbia University: School of General Studies
• Fordham University:Fordham College of Liberal Studies
• Mount Holyoke College: Frances Perkins Program
• Smith College: Ada Comstock Scholars Program
• Wellesley College: Non-Traditional Programs