College Students Today

Today, higher education has seen an increased number of students from 7.5 million in 1968 to 17.5 million in 2005. With current economic conditions, return of many adults and workers to the classroom, I expect this number to continue to rise as many Americans are returning school to gain job training to secure employment. My practicum experience at Northwest Mississippi Community College this past summer was evident that many adult learners were returning back to school. With so many for-profit online institutions becoming popular because of their convenience of the working adult, the business of these institutions has skyrocketed. Many may argue about the credibility of those institutions in the job market, but others may see it as a way of advancing their education while supporting their families' needs.

Today's college students are not the normal age of 18 years old anymore, you find many first-time college students who are over the age of 22 or deemed as nontraditional students. This doesn't mean that they were not smart enough to attend college right after high school, but some may chose to enter the workforce to support their families. Today's college students and institutions are diverse in every aspect. Like Clark Kerr states in the "Uses of the University," post-secondary institutions are like cities because of their distinct and diverse offerings. College students today come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, countries, and lifestyles which make institutions diverse and unique. Graduate student numbers are continuing to rise as students are advancing their credentials to keep jobs, secure better pay and benefits, and advance their careers. Today's college students are unique, multi-cultured, diverse, excelling, growing, and last but not least, a pleasure to work with and assist in the profession we call Student Affairs.

From being raised in a single parent household, I have witnessed the importance of gaining a quality education which has impacted me thus far in my endeavors. Although, my mom did attend college directly after high school, I saw the sacrifices she made for my brother and I and went back to obtain her Bachelor's degree in 2006 and will obtain her Master's this summer. I feel its never too late to attend college if you are able to, but as I stress to my EDHE 101 students, it takes good time management skills, dedication, a strong support system, and an open-mind. I definitely believe students can succeed if they put in effort and have support that does not always have to be financial support, although it is important. In today's society, it is imperative for student affairs professionals to encourage our students to succeed by being persistent, involved, aware, dedicated, and understand they can become champions of higher education by obtaining their baccalaureate degree's.