Part-time learner in higher education

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A part-time learner is a non-traditional student who pursues higher education, typically after reaching physical maturity, while living off-campus, and possessing responsibilities related to family and/or employment. Part-time student status is based on taking fewer course credits in a semester than full-time students.

In the United States, the number of part-time students rose 16 percent between 2004 and 2014. In 2015, 23 percent of undergraduate students at 4-year institutions attended part-time, compared to 61 percent of students at 2-year institutions.

In Canada, the course load that constitutes part-time student status varies between institutions. The University of British Columbia, for example, defines a part-time undergraduate student as one enrolled in less than 80 percent of the standard 30 credit-hour course load. The University of Manitoba defines the part-time undergraduate student as an individual enrolled in less than 60 percent of the standard full 30 credit hour course load. The Government of Canada national student loans program defines a part-time student as one who is enrolled in 20-59 percent of a full course load.

In Canada part-time undergraduate enrolment grew by 25 percent from 1980 to 1992. From 2000 to 2010, part-time enrolment grew by one percent a year compared to four percent for full-time enrolment. A high number of part-time students are adult students. In 2010, approximately 24 percent of undergraduate students in Canada were studying part-time, and 60 percent of part-time students were 25 years old or older.

In the United Kingdom, while full-time students have been increasing, part-time student enrolment has been steady decreasing since 2009-2010. In 2011-2012, 31 percent of all enrolments were part-time, while in 2015-2016 part-time students consisted of 24 percent of all enrolments. Between 2011-2012 and 2015-2016 there was an overall 30 percent decrease of part-time students.

In Australia, 31.2 percent of students in 2008 were enrolled part-time. Between 2003 and 2008, while the number of students attending full time increased by 21.1 percent, the number attending part-time enrollments increased by only 2.5 percent.

Video Part-time learner in higher education

See also

• Adult student
• Non-traditional student

Maps Part-time learner in higher education

References

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Additional citations

• Andres, L., & Carpenter, S. (1997). Today's higher education students: Issues of admission, retention, transfer, and attrition in relation to changing student demographics. Centre for Policy Studies in Education University of British Columbia. Retrieved October 12, 2007 from:http://www.bccat.bc.ca/pubs/today.pdf
• Billett, S. (1998). Ontogeny and participation in communities of practice: A socio-cognitive view of adult development. Studies in the Education of Adults, 30(1), 21. Retrieved September 15, 2008 from the Academic Search Elite database.
• Campbell, D. (1984). The new majority: Adult Learners in the University. Edmonton: The University of Alberta Press.
• Holt, N. (2003) Representation, Legitimation, and Autoethnography: An Autoethnographic Writing Story. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2 (1) Retrieved September 18, 2008 from https://www.ualberta.ca/~iiqm/backissues/2_1/pdf/holt.pdf
• Kozulin, A. (2004). Vygotsky's theory in the classroom: Introduction. European Journal of Psychology of Education - EJPE, 19(1), 3-7. Retrieved September 15, 2008 from the Academic Search Elite database.
• Kroth, M. (2000). Life Mission and Adult Learning. Adult Education Quarterly, 50 (2).
• McDonough, G. (2005). Moral maturity and autonomy: appreciating the significance of Lawrence Kolhberg's Just Community. Journal of Moral Education, 34(2), 199-213. Retrieved September 18, 2008 from the Academic Search Elite database.
• Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R., S., & Baumgartner, L., M. (2007). Learning in adulthood" A comprehensive guide (3rd Edition). San Francisco : Jossey-Bass.
• Rennemark, M., & Hagberg, B. (1997). Sense of coherence among the elderly in relation to their perceived life history in an Eriksonian perspective. Aging & Mental Health, 1(3), 221-229. Retrieved September 18, 2008 from the Academic Search Elite database.
• Russell, C. (1999). Autoethnography: Journey of the Self. Experimental Ethnography. Retrieved September 18, 2008 from http://www.haussite.net/haus.0/SCRIPT/txt2001/01/russel.HTML
• Siegler, R., Ellis, S. (1996). Piaget on Childhood. Psychological Science, American Psychological Society, 7(4). Retrieved September 18, 2008 from the Academic Search Elite database.
• Stydinger, N., & Dundes, L. (Spring, 2006). Over the Hill? A Nontraditional Undergraduate Student's Uphill Battle. College Quarterly, 9(2). Retrieved September 16, 2007, from http://www.senecac.on.ca/quarterly/2006-vol09-num02-spring/stydinger_dundes.html

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Further reading

• Waniewicz, I. (1976). Demand for part-time learning in Ontario. The Ontario Educational Communications: Canada
• Longden, B. & Yorke, M. (October 2008). The experiences of part-time students in higher education: A study from the UK. Retrieved from https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/experiences-part-time-students-higher-education-study-uk
• Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board. (1981). Post-secondary Education for Part-time and Returning Students.
• Smith, D. M., & Saunders, M. R. (1991). Other routes: Part-time higher education policy. Buckingham [England: Society for Research into Higher Education.
• Tight, M. (1991). Higher Education: A part-time perspective. Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press.

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External links

• higherlearningatwork.org A guide to part-time learning in higher education in the UK
• Complete University Guide Alternatives to full time study
• Alternative education timetable A guide to part-time higher education

Source of article : Wikipedia