Analytic Themes & Final Recommendations

Below is a list of themes that were emergent in the analytic process within the Photovoice methodology:

• Being a Life Scholar means having to work harder than others balancing responsibilities while also speaking up in classes to dismantle harmful thinking and defend issues of racial and social justice.
• Life Scholars need time, space, and community to regroup and restore ourselves.
• Equitable, tailored policies are needed to ensure housing, childcare, guidance, and financial support match needs.
• Flexible education models are needed to maximize the impact Life Scholars can have on the UIC community.

Our research team has developed the following recommendations:

Formalization of the Life Scholar Identity

UIC should acknowledge Life Scholars and adjacent identities of post-traditional students as a student population/identity with specific needs and concerns. Ideally, faculty and administration should have an understanding of the specific demands and barriers facing Life Scholars and adjacent identities to better serve, address, and/or accommodate the relevant needs of this population.

 Expanded financial support for Life Scholars/adult learners

Life Scholars as a population face increased financial demands and constraints outside of the cost of their degree. Expanded financial aid for Life Scholars could alleviate the myriad of ways that the cost of their education can burden themselves and their families.

 Expanded pathways to higher education for community members

Ensuring that pathways are created for community members who may have otherwise been unable to enter higher education or complete their degree is a meaningful way that the universities and higher education institutions can work on their advancement, community stewardship, and even equity goals.

Financial aid overhaul

Universities and institutions should be more proactive in preventing individuals from falling into debt so readily. This includes halting practices such as imposing compounding interest rates and late fees, giving people a fighting chance to get themselves out of debt.

• Alternatives to grade-based funding, inclusions of need-based financial aid specifically meant for Life Scholars.

Advisors tailored to Life Scholars

Advisors that are specifically meant for Life Scholars and adjacent identities could be a major way universities and adjacent institutions enable their higher educational achievement. Having someone who understands the specific challenges and barriers facing adult learners and who knows the relevant services and resources that can enable their success can be an invaluable guide during their educational journey. As a population that experiences barriers to degree completion and faces uncertainty in navigating the complicated support systems present in university institutions, a guide is often necessary.

Expanding affordable housing near campus

While there is a designated area for commuter students to gather, it doesn’t compare to having specific events or spaces tailored for more experienced learners such as Life Scholars. Furthermore, the type of housing or lack thereof offered by the University should be reevaluated. It is crucial to have family housing options for students with children and older students, ideally situated on or near campus. These are among the numerous barriers that can deter individuals from pursuing higher education in the first place. Therefore, when granting community members admission and access, it’s essential to consider non-traditional campus housing as well.

Expansion and alignment of child-care services

Life Scholars are more likely to face the demands of childcare which can be a burden on their educational achievement. Expanding and aligning current childcare services could alleviate some of the continuous demands of being a parent facing Life Scholars and adjacent identities.

• After-school childcare services.
• Creating cohorts of students who are caregivers- in turn creating communal support, resilience, and advocacy.

Flexible educational model

The university operates on an antiquated educational model that is no longer appropriate or viable for today’s students, especially adult learners who are returning to education after a hiatus and frequently managing additional responsibilities that 18-year-olds typically do not bear. Institutions can offer more adaptable learning environments to cater to the distinct challenges faced by individual students

• Additional educational support, for post-traditional students.
• Re-evaluation of curriculum and submission requirements.
• Expansion of learn-from-home classes.
• Expansion of evening classes.
• Expansion of weekend courses.

Inclusion of Life Scholars at the decision-making table

Life Scholars and post-traditional students are an often forgotten student group that receives limited attention from administrators and policy-level decision-makers at educational institutions. Ensuring their representation, inclusion, and involvement in major policy change is a critical way that universities can prevent structural harm from affecting this vulnerable group of students. Their considerations are especially important in policy change involving student recruitment, financial aid, and student affairs.