“You’re a Mature Student and You’re a Tiny, Tiny Little Fish in a Big Massive Pond of Students”: A Thematic Analysis Investigating the Institutional Support Needs of Partnered Mature Students in Postsecondary Study

Author:

van Rhijn Tricia1ORCID,Osborne Caitlyn1,Gores Deborah1,Keresturi Amiah2,Neustifter Ruth1,Muise Amy3,Fritz Victoria1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada

2. McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada

3. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada

Abstract

Mature students in postsecondary education—those over 25 years of age, also known as nontraditional students or adult learners—make up a significant minority population on Canadian postsecondary campuses. Despite academic performance that tends to be higher than that of traditional students, the retention of mature students is lower due to the stressors they face in their home and school roles. This paper examines the insights of mature students and their intimate partners on how higher education institutions can provide better supports to make postsecondary programs and campuses more accessible to adult learners and enable their success. A sample of 25 mature postsecondary students enrolled in Canadian higher education institutions and their partners participated in dyadic interviews that explored the connections between their relationship and school experiences. A data-driven, inductive thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews found three themes that focused on the institutional support needs of partnered mature students, highlighting the need to (1) increase institutional knowledge and awareness of mature students’ needs, (2) offer flexible study options to complete courses and program requirements, and (3) provide relevant supports and programs. Mature students felt marginalized at their institutions related to the programs, instructors, staff, resources, and supports that are strongly focused on traditional-aged and circumstanced students. Recommendations are provided for higher education institutions to provide resources and supports that meet mature students’ unique needs to both access and be successful in their pursuit of postsecondary education.

Funder

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Public Administration,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Education,Computer Science Applications,Computer Science (miscellaneous),Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Reference31 articles.

1. MacFadgen, L. (2008). Mature Students in the Persistence Puzzle: An Exploration of the Factors That Contribute to Mature Students’ Health, Learning, and Retention in Post-Secondary Education, Canadian Council on Learning. Available online: http://www.ccl-cca.ca/NR/rdonlyres/65C42165-C7AA-431F-841F-1B1513BF272A/0/MacFadgenFinalAL2006.pdf.

2. Motivations of traditional and nontraditional college students: From self-determination and attributions, to expectancy and values;Johnson;J. Contin. High. Educ.,2016

3. Nontraditional adult learners: The neglected diversity in postsecondary education;Chen;SAGE Open,2017

4. The transition of mature students to higher education: Challenging traditional concepts?;Fragoso;Stud. Educ. Adults,2013

5. Statistics Canada (2023, September 27). Labour Force Survey (February 2023), Available online: https://odesi.ca/en.

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