Colleges and universities, facing declining enrollment due to dwindling numbers of recent high school graduates, are increasingly marketing to nontraditional students. However, these colleges have failed to put processes in place to provide services to nontraditional students and lack the flexibility these students need to succeed and finish their programs or degrees.

If you have issues with a college or university, call the Lento Law Firm. We represent all types of students, including those returning to college after a break or other nontraditional students. We can help you assert your rights and get the best result possible with your institution. Call 888.535.3686 or provide your details online, and we will contact you.

Who Are Nontraditional Students

Nontraditional students are defined as being in at least one of seven categories:

• Being over 24.
• Having a GED.
• Working full-time.
• Having a child.
• Being a single parent.
• Waiting at least one year after high school to start college.
• Being a first-generation student (first in the family to attend college).

While membership in any of these groups marks a student as nontraditional, most nontraditional students fit several criteria. In other words, they are older, have children, work full-time, and it has been at least a year since they graduated from high school.

Colleges Want to Attract Nontraditional Students

Colleges are luring these nontraditional students by offering debt forgiveness, scholarships, and promising childcare. However, they are often unprepared to support the students effectively over the long haul. The result is that the student takes on more debt and still does not have a degree or other marketable education credential.

Challenges of Nontraditional Students

Nontraditional students have the same types of issues with their college or university that any other student might have, including:

1. Issues of poor grades or lack of academic progression.
2. Alleged code of conduct violations, including allegations of harassment or illegal conduct.
3. Alleged academic misconduct, including plagiarism and cheating.

But nontraditional students may also face challenges particular to returning to college after a break, such as

1. Violation of an attendance policy to care for a sick child.
2. Loss of academic credit because their college will not give credit for past classes for various reasons.
3. The college's failure to appropriately reward life experience as it represented it would do before enrollment.
4. A failure of the college to allow the student to appear remotely when circumstances require.

Some students have taken the same class repeatedly because the college will not accept all transfer credits. These students incur debt for classes and face slow progress toward a degree. Some of these students give up because it is just too hard.

Recommendations for Nontraditional Student Services

A report by California Competes on returning students makes the following recommendations to colleges serving nontraditional students:

1. Have a flexible policy on remote attendance.
2. Have more academic advisors trained to address the needs of nontraditional students.
3. Prepare a plan for transfer credits in advance so the student knows where they stand.
4. Waive enrollment and application fees.
5. Reframe academic probation.

How the Lento Law Firm Can Help

Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team if you are a nontraditional student facing any of these issues. We understand that nontraditional students face challenges that others might not, and we are here to help. Don't give up or face this fight alone. Call 888.535.3686 or provide your details online, and we will contact you.