Back to College: East Tennessee Offers Great Opportunities to New and Returning Students
Whether thirsty for knowledge, eager for a second career, or anxious about their employability, many aging Americans are heading back to college. "The number of college students ages 40 to 64 has jumped by almost 20 percent to nearly 2 million in the past decade." Some Americans are finding that their 50s and 60s are focused on "giving to others, building community; becoming a Keeper of the Meaning, a steward of the culture; and Integrity," while others are finding the "courage to break out of the box of the past. (Either way,) going back to school is well-suited to this work of reinvention and integration."
Photo by David Boyle.
With the number of retirees expected to increase from 35 million to 70 million by 2030, it's reasonable to assume that the college classroom will change dramatically, as well. Responding to the rising interest, "a growing number of colleges, charities, companies, and governments are starting to accommodate—and even encourage—adults who return to the classroom." Some companies offer continuing education support in the form of educational expense reimbursement and/or bonuses upon degree completion; states are changing financial aid stipulations to allow eligibility for those desiring to return to college and are offering free or reduced tuition for senior students (The State of Tennessee offers tuition waivers to senior citizens for credit courses and audited courses at any of the state schools); and colleges are offering a number of creative opportunities, from lifestyle and certification courses to residential retirement "villages" which require a specified number of study hours in order to live there.
If you're interested, but concerned about being a returning student in a younger classroom, you should be aware that other nontraditional students are likely to be there, and even if not, college professors tend to welcome older students as they have better attendance rates, make better grades, and offer experienced insight in discussions. Excited? Some tips on managing college expenses can be found here. Also, the University of Tennessee's Outreach & Continuing Education program is a great resource, as is Pellissippi State Technical Community College. For more information on educational opportunities in East Tennessee, submit your inquiry here.
