Framing New Terrain: Older Adults and Higher Education

Summary

Produced by the American Council on Education (ACE), Framing New Terrain: Older Adults and Higher Education focuses on the needs and challenges facing the ever-increasing number of older adult learners who seek out postsecondary educational opportunities. The report cites statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau indicating that more than 70 million people will be aged 65 and older by 2030. Based on these and other projected demographic changes in the population, Framing New Terrain calls for a reframing of educational policies across various sectors including postsecondary education, workforce development, and community service. To support this argument, the report provides a profile of the country’s older adults aged 55 to 79. Additionally, the authors frame questions and issues around the mission of postsecondary education that community colleges and four-year colleges and universities should consider to better meet the needs of older adult learners. These questions include:

What Do We Know About Older Adults?
What Brings Older Adults into Higher Education?
What Keeps Older Adults Out of Higher Education?
What Challenges Face Higher Education?

Framing New Terrain is the first report in "Reinvesting in the Third Age: Older Adults and Higher Education", ACE’s two-year research project funded by the MetLife Foundation.

Citation

Mary Beth Lakin, Laura Mullane and Susan Porter Robinson (2007). Framing New Terrain: Older Adults and Higher Education. American Council on Education.

Retrieved From

http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/CLLL/Reinvesting/Reinvestingfinal.pdf