Older students face unique challenges

By John Kopelman

Contributor

WCC serves a population of both traditional and nontraditional students, and “older” students—or students over the typical college age range—fall into the latter category. Students over 25 account for 38% of WCC’s enrollees, according to a National Center for Education Statistics report.

Older students are in a unique and often challenging place in the educational and employment market. Many come to WCC with industry experience or a previous degree on their belts, others are returning to school after starting a family. Whatever the case may be, older students often provide a perspective distinct from those of some of their more traditional counterparts.

So, what does this look like in the day-to-day experience of these students?

Kelly Ruddock, 36, hopes to transfer to U of M, but finds that many of the classes she needs to take are not available in the evenings.

“I think specifically for me the childcare center is really helpful because I can actually bring my son here and drop him off and go to class. Without that, I wouldn’t be able to go to class, especially with the limited availability of classes,” Ruddock said.

Another older student, Melissa Weaver, 40, also finds challenges in re-entering student life long after high school.

“I didn’t go to college out of high school,” said Weaver. “I didn’t even know MLA and APA format, citing for papers, it’s like I’m doing triple time trying to catch up with what these kids were brought up with.”

Weaver uses some of the resources that WCC offers as part of her strategy for success in school.

“I was using [Learning Support Services] …it was awesome that they allowed me to rent a recording device. I could go back and listen to things, and it took a lot of the pressure off of me,” Weaver said. Weaver earned a 4.0 GPA last semester.