HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF STUDENT SERVICES 2

History and Philosophy of Student Services

Online education has significantly repressed tuition prices paid y adult learners. It has
allowed colleges to enroll many adult learners online, increasing access to education for
interested adults. The issue I selected is ‘increasing enrollment in higher education by distance
learners, online learners, and older adult learners.’ Online education has had an impact on the
number of students enrolling in higher education. Due to the convenience that it offers, it has
also encouraged more adult learners to pursue higher education. Consequently, there has been a
random shift in how students access and receive services. The personal touch in traditional
learning environments is no longer there as students receive education and other services
remotely. I selected this issue because I am a beneficiary of online learning. As an adult, this
platform has offered me convenience as I can receive education and still manage to take care of
my family.
I think that many institutions have rushed into offering online education because that is
what most adults can tolerate. The affordability and convenience that online learning offers
encourage adults, who have many responsibilities, to go back to school and achieve their
ambitions. Thus, I think that institutions should be more concerned about how students are faring
educationally, as opposed to just concentrating on providing convenience and affordable
education. For instance, they should compare graduation rates of online students and those of
students who enroll for blended modes of learning. I think that adult learners need more than just
convenience and lower rates. They may be in need of one-on-one interaction with their peers as
well as their instructors, as this cannot be compared.

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Online education has attracted a huge number of adult learners. According to Carlsen &
Holmberg (2016), a high number of students enrolling in degree programs online. This shows
that this mode of learning has the potential to help adult learners attain education conveniently
and gain a new qualification. Also, the opportunity of adult learners to acquire non-degree
courses at other different levels can be instrumental in helping adult learners gain additional
skills, update their knowledge, and gain new skills in a certain field. It is essential for higher
education institutions to understand the needs of adult learners and then adapt their programs
based on demand.
Further, the rise in enrolment of students for higher education who already possess a first
higher education degree is an indication that distance learning has a strong potential to improve
education. The new platforms have made higher education accessible to more people, and the
target has widened from not only non-degree holders but also degree holders who want to
advance their education. Carlsen & Holmberg (2016) hold that support and an adequate
framework are necessary at the policy level to ensure that further access is made possible. It is
important to achieve equity of access, quality, and diversity, as well as the demand for
orientation.
Further, addressing my issue would be instrumental in ensuring that student service
professionals are accessible to students both on online and offline platforms. All students need
strong support and guidance. The need is even stronger when students are distributed in different
parts and only interact with their peers and the instructor through online discussion forums and
emails. Thus, the development of good study guides that support students, and further
advancements in learner orientation would help provide the necessary support that adult learners

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require (Duderstadt, 2006). The rising numbers of adult learners also call for more student
service practitioners or channels to reach those available.
Based on my issue, I drafted the following interview questions:
i. What are some of the factors that are increasingly influencing change towards the
implementation of more flexible education systems?
ii. Little publicly accessible and available information exists to help adult learners on issues
relating to earnings potential, employment outcomes, and return on education investment.
How can access to this information be granted to adult learners?
iii. Should the federal government make it a requirement for higher institutions of learning to
submit reports of labor market participation, earnings, and data that would be relevant to
adult learners pursuing their courses online? If so, how? If not, why?
As an adult learner, the above questions are personal. First, I have, in the recent past,
realized that the existing systems are not flexible enough for adult learners. Technology is
increasingly changing how things are done, and the case is similar in higher education. As such,
it is necessary to understand how these changes have influenced the student services profession.
Further, I have noted that the existing institutional accountability systems do not monitor
outcomes neither do they have mechanisms in place to drive improvement for adult learners.
Institutions are largely not to blame as the federal and state authorities have not put in place
policies requiring these institutions to make any formal submissions of reports on earnings,
employment data, or even labor market participation. There is also little information that is
available publicly for adult learners to access and answer questions on employment or other
issues that may be of interest to them, such as return on education investment, earning potential,
and other factors that could affect their success upon joining the labor market. Several years ago,

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as I was enrolling for my undergraduate, I was looking for answers to such issues, but I could not
get sufficient information as it was not publicly available.
Overall, the issue of a rise in adult learners enrolling in online education has a direct
impact on my future career. As a teacher, I should be concerned about the welfare of my
students. Also, in case I will still be an adult learner since learning is a lifelong process, I will
need to know the available systems to help students in accessing information that may be useful
to their success in education and the job market as well. I know that accountability measures are
aimed at providing meaningful ways and channels to access help from institutions and quality
programs. Thus, having these issues addressed as early as now will help shape the direction that
my future career will take. In the future, I will be aware of sites to direct my students so that they
can get the necessary support. Remarkably, adult learners, policymakers at the federal and state
levels, institutions of higher learning, and employers are all stakeholders in the issue of student
services. Each is affected either directly or indirectly hence the need to ensure that the services
are available to students in a timely way.

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References

Carlsen, A., & Holmberg, C. (2016). Opportunities for distance education to benefit adult
learners in higher education.
Duderstadt, J. J. (2006). A Test of Leadership-Charting the Future of US Higher Education.