UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kim Wiesner had such a positive experience returning to Penn State as an adult learner to finish her bachelor’s degree that she was inspired to get a master’s degree.
Wiesner enrolled at Penn State in the 1980s after she graduated high school, but she left college without finishing and went to work in health care. She decided to go back to school in the 2000s and graduated in 2010 with her bachelor’s, which she finished online through Penn State World Campus. She went back through World Campus to get a master’s degree in adult learning and graduated in 2018.
She’s now working with World Campus as a certified academic coach in a role that supports the same kind of adult learners she once was.
“I know what the journey of an adult learner looks like,” Wiesner said. “I’m a first-generation college student. I had a gap between my schooling. Anything I can do to help adult learners cross the finish line, I’ll do it. I truly believe in what I do.”
The Penn State Commission for Adult Learners, a group of staff members and administrators that have been advocating for adult learners like Wiesner, was formed in 1998. This academic year marks its 25th year of serving these students.
Throughout its existence, the commission has focused on bringing visibility to the adult learner population and identifying barriers to their progress. The commission has recommended changes in University policy and practice, served as a repository for adult learner-focused initiatives, and fostered the coordination and exchange of information about programs and services that attract and retain adult learners. Significant efforts have also been made to support active-duty military and veterans, including the establishment of the Military and Veteran Support Services committee.
“For the past 25 years, the Penn State Commission for Adult Learners has served an important role at the University by advocating for these students to have access to higher education,” said Renata Engel, vice provost for Online Education at Penn State and an executive sponsor of the commission. “Adult learners enrich our university community because of the life experiences they bring to the classroom, such as working to support themselves and their families or serving in the military, and share with their classmates on campus and online. We value the critical work the commission has done to support the goals of adult learners and enrich their journey toward their college degree.”
Adult learners at Penn State
Across the University at the undergraduate level, there were 12,189 adult learners during the 2023-24 academic year, representing 15% of the more than 80,000 undergraduates across University Park, the Commonwealth Campuses and Penn State World Campus.
At Penn State, an adult learner is defined as a student who is either 24 or older; a veteran or active-duty service member; returning to college after four or more years of employment, homemaking or another activity; or assumes multiple adult roles, such as a parent, spouse or partner, or employee.
Advocating for adult learners since 1998
The commission’s primary objectives are contributing to a supportive academic environment for adult learners, monitoring recruitment and retention, recommending policy changes, fostering coordination of services and advocacy.
In 2005, Penn State Outreach was reorganized, placing advocacy tasks for adult learners under its purview. Craig Weidemann, the vice president for Outreach at that time, was designated as the chief advocate for adult learners. In 2006, the University created the role of adult enrollment coordinator for each campus among University Park, the Commonwealth Campuses and Penn State World Campus.
The commission’s accomplishments over the past 25 years include educating faculty on best practices, creating mechanisms for evaluating prior learning and proposing strategies to overcome financial obstacles.
The commission hosts the Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference, which showcases best practices from the academic community that supports adult learners. The conference takes place every other year and is open to higher education professionals from anywhere in the world. The most recent conference was on April 8.
The commission developed two websites to help address situations encountered by adult learners. The prior learning website was created to help students determine if they can receive credit for knowledge gained outside of the traditional academic environment. The financial literacy website serves as a central location to provide students with knowledge and skills to manage their financial resources.
Today, the commission is sponsored by the following administrators at Penn State:
- Vice Provost for Online Education Renata Engel
- Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and Executive Chancellor Margo DelliCarpini
- Vice Provost for Educational Equity Marcus Whitehurst
- Vice President for Enrollment Management Matt Melvin
- Interim Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education Jeff Adams
- Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Andrea Dowhower
“As someone who was an adult learner as an undergraduate student, I am happy to be a part of the executive team sponsoring the Commission on Adult Learners and join in celebrating their work over the past 25 years and the impact on creating access and support for our students,” said DelliCarpini.
“Adult students are a vital part of our Commonwealth Campus communities and add value to our teaching and learning environment. Being intentional about understanding and meeting their needs and supporting adult learners both in and out of the classroom is a critical component of student success, and the commission continues to be a vital part of these efforts.”
Visit the Commission for Adult Learners website to learn more about its role at Penn State.