Research + News | Topic: Nontraditional Students

A Pandemic Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

Neuroscientists tell us that it’s during times of boredom our brains develop empathy and creativity. Read the Growing Leaders blog post from Tim Elmore urging us to take advantage of the time we have during this pandemic.

What Should I Do After High School?

Greg Forster answers the following questions:

What would you say to someone who doesn’t have a clear idea of their vocation after graduating high school? Go on to college and pick a generic degree? Trade school? Gap year? Something else?

Read the article here.

What Do Young Americans Really Think About Trade School?

There has been a gradual decline over the past few years in students enrolling in occupational education programs, trade schools, and apprenticeships. Read the article here.

3 Reasons That Career And Technical Education Doesn’t Preclude College

Confronting some misconceptions about future learners.

Read the full article here.

Christian Higher Ed for Nontraditional Students

OstranderInside Higher Ed features an interview with Rick Ostrander, provost at Cornerstone University and author of Reconsidering College: Christian Higher Education for Working Adults (Albilene Christian University Press). Based on his own experience as a nontraditional student, Ostrander makes a strong case for the value of Christian higher education in general, especially for working adults/nontraditional students in particular. From the interview:

Q: The book focuses on how the nontraditional Christian college student should value higher education. How is a Christian’s way of valuing it different from a non-Christian’s?

A: Ideally, a Christian would value higher education not just for its practical benefits, but as a way to deepen his or her relationship with God. If I really believe that everything in the world is meaningfully connected to a personal God who created it, then that gives me additional incentive to learn. It enables me to more fully know the God that I believe in, and to experience God more deeply. In other words, studying chemistry helps me know more about the God who created chemistry.

Read the entire interview here.