There’s been a recent shift in how higher education professionals are talking about stopped out students, or “some college, no credential” (SCNC) learners. Where it once seemed like many institutions were asking “shouldn’t we be doing something for adult learners?” the conversation seems to have shifted to: “here’s what we’ve tried, what are other schools trying?” As an organization focused on engaging, re-enrolling and supporting this unique population of SCNC learners (40.4 million and growing), ReUp gathers data based on student feedback that informs best practices for our state and institu ..read more

By N’Digo Kali, Manager of Learner Services  When used outside the realm of sports, the term “coaching” can be difficult for people not familiar with my profession to grasp. Although student success coaching has seen a steady increase in demand recently (see Purdue and others, for example), a knowledge gap still exists for many people who are unclear as to the role, need, and validity of coaching in higher education if they have no plans to join a professional sports team. Similar to athletic coaches — or those who focus on health, business, or any other aspect of life you can t ..read more

With the costs of a college education rising, many students, including working adults, have questioned the value of traditional academic degrees. Although the benefits of a bachelor’s degree are many, some learners are exploring alternatives. One popular form of microcredential is a bootcamp. But what exactly are bootcamps, and how can they help you with your professional development?   History The concept of bootcamps originated with the US Armed Forces. Also known as basic training, bootcamp prepares recruits for military service. The idea has since spread to intensive sports training a ..read more

If you’ve been out of school for several months, years, or even decades, the idea of returning to college can be intimidating. Whether you’re in your 30s or 70s or anywhere in between, you might worry about fitting in with 20-year-old classmates, mastering the technology required for class, or juggling college with work and family life. It might surprise you to know that adults over the age of 25 now represent approximately 40% of all students in college. And that number—nearly 8 million adult learners!—is only growing. So the good news is that depending on where you attend school, concerns ab ..read more

Many students prefer the immediacy and social interaction of a brick-and-mortar classroom. But for many adult learners, online classes provide the flexible scheduling that they need to complete their degrees while working or supporting a family. Whether you are taking real-time remote classes that meet on a regular schedule or are engaging in a self-paced, asynchronous program, here are our tips for helping you stay motivated and achieve success in your online courses.   Tap into your motivation One of the most significant challenges of college is getting and staying motivated. Self-pace ..read more

Have you ever been admitted to college or landed a new job but then worried you might not actually have the skills necessary to succeed—or even just survive? At one time or another, most of us have looked around at classmates or colleagues and thought, I don’t belong. Sure, we’ve received praise for our achievements, but we secretly think everyone else in the room is still smarter than us. We convince ourselves that we’re merely faking it by comparison. Even worse, we live in dread that we are just moments away from being exposed as frauds.   The tolls of the impostor phenomenon Among psy ..read more

If you’re looking to level up your career, one way to boost your tech skills is to enroll in a bootcamp. While considering the benefits of bootcamps and whether that route is right for you, one factor to weigh is the cost versus your return on investment, or ROI. The price tag for most bootcamps ranges from $5,000 to $25,000, with the average hovering around $14,000. And because bootcamps are not accredited like many colleges and universities, you are not eligible to use federal financial aid, such as federal grants and loans, to offset your costs. But as with colleges, which often deeply disc ..read more

According to the Burning Glass Institute, a nonprofit research center, the number of employers requiring college degrees in job postings has been declining since 2017. A college degree still holds immense value for both employers and jobseekers alike. But many organizations are hiring job applicants based on relevant experience rather than an academic diploma. One way to demonstrate one’s vocational skills is by enrolling in a bootcamp. Let’s take a look at the benefits of pursuing a boot-camp certificate.   Gain real-world experience Bootcamps recruit instructors who are familiar with th ..read more

Have you ever found yourself reading a textbook and highlighting, well, almost everything? Or have you taken notes during class but not really known what to do besides reread them before an exam? You’re not alone. Some of us were never taught how to study to begin with. Or we have to work to remember our old study skills because it’s been a while since we were in school—sort of like having to dust off that old unicycle and learning to ride again. And many of us have to adapt our strategies as things change, such as shifting from pen and paper to PDFs or transitioning between online and in-pers ..read more

If you’ve ever committed to developing more effective habits and then abandoned those resolutions within weeks—or even days—you’re not alone. Many of us would love to be healthier, get more organized, or stop procrastinating. So why is it so hard to change our habits?  Contrary to what we might expect, teeth-gritting and white-knuckling our way to changing our behavior isn’t effective. In an MMA showdown between willpower and deeply ingrained rituals, habits tend to win. That’s because we often lack the support system we need to create and maintain change. We are wired to prefer what’s ea ..read more