Northern Kentucky University President James Votruba and other university representatives will join other colleges from across the Commonwealth this week to examine how best to ensure adult students succeed.

NKU already has an adult-based program, but is ready to learn more at the first-ever Kentucky Adult Learner Summit, hosted by the Council on Postsecondary Education in Lexington.

'I’ve always believed that part of the next great leap forward for American colleges and universities is to fully integrate the adult learner into the life of the campus,' said Votruba.

The PACE program (Program for Adult-Centered education) offers night and online classes for the convenience of adult students, said Vicki Culbreth, executive director of educational outreach for the university.

NKU has a large number of commuter and part-time learners, many of whom balance being a student with the many responsibilities of being an adult, Votruba said.

PACE schedules are structured so students go directly from one class to the next to be time efficient.

'It takes the guess work out of scheduling,' said Culbreth of the Hybrid classes, which are offered 6-9:30 p.m. once a week.

Classes are eight-week sessions, rather than the traditional student’s 16-week semester.

The school offers bachelor’s degrees in liberal studies, computer information technology and organizational leadership.

NKU also offers bachelor completion online-only programs in organizational leadership, construction management, health science and nursing degree advancement.

Votruba, who was the professor of adult and higher education and Associate Director of the Office of Continuing Education and Public Service at the University of Illinois, believes that there is still more that NKU can and 'must do to make sure that we are accessible for adults across the lifespan.'

The university is looking at different ways to further enhance the adult learner’s experience. One consideration is expanded day care. Presently, day care at the university closes at 6 p.m. That is when classes start for adult programs. Another is scholarships for part-time adult learners. More opportunities for adult learners to pursue their degrees online is yet another initiative that will contribute to our user friendliness, said Votruba.

Culbreth said NKU needs to re-evaluate the admissions policy and testing as well.

'The policy was written with the traditional student in mind.'

Giving an admissions test in math, English, etc., isn’t always the best way to judge the student’s readiness to learn, she said.

'Instead of them going through the maze, we want to help them,' said Culbreth. 'People have a higher quality of life, the higher the education is.'

She hopes to learn how to better assist adult students by attending the Kentucky Adult Learner Initiative.

Discussion topics are set to include, ways to improve academic and public policy, student services, financial aid and postsecondary education marketing.

'For Kentucky to meet its 2020 goal of doubling the number of college graduates in the state, we must reach outside the traditional high-school-to-college pipeline,' said Brad Cowgill, interim president of the Council on Postsecondary Education, in a news release.

'Adult learners, who are often balancing full-time work and family responsibilities, have different needs than traditional college students and we must fully recognize and meet those needs.'

The summit is the first step in Kentucky’s efforts to address the needs of adult learners.