EDUCATION
superintendent of Solano Community College District . “ Or they might enroll in our foreign language classes , Spanish or French in particular .”
Whatever the case , it can be a smart move for adults looking to launch a second career to consider more — or even a late first round of — higher education . “ I think it ’ s critical that they consider going back for more education ,” Sacramento State President Robert S . Nelsen says . “ It is the skills that we need to move forward , so coming back and re-honing those skills or getting new skills is critical .”
More older adults seem to be heeding these types of messages . The Chronicle of Higher Education noted that for the fall of 2018 , adults over the age of 40 comprised 8.7 percent of the 15.6 million college students , ranging from 5.8 percent in four-year public institutions to 28.6 percent in four-year for-profit schools . And the coronavirus pandemic hasn ’ t had much impact on enrollment for older students . “ We have not seen more applications ,” says Jenni Murphy , dean of the College of Continuing Education at Sacramento State . “ But we have not seen a drop-off .”
Older students often use new educational opportunities as bridges to weather rough economic times and increase their skill set . Murphy says returning adult students often have different levels of persistence , commitment and focus . “ It ’ s not an exploratory , maybe kind of figure-out-what-youwant-to-do-with-your-life ( pursuit ),” Murphy says . “ It ’ s , ‘ This is where I ’ m at . I want to earn more . I want to be in a profession that I love . I want to use my skills differently .’”
Some opt for elements of the traditional college experience . Esposito-Noy points to one man in his late 50s , a longtime contractor who hadn ’ t previously attended college , who enrolled at Solano Community College and played on the tennis team . “ Frankly , he was as competitive as any of the youngsters ,” Esposito-Noy says .
Many options for more study
One reason it might be easier to pursue a new career is that options to earn degrees or certificates are expanding beyond four-year institutions .
Pam Walker , a Sacramento-based educational consultant , helped the California Community Colleges system develop a pilot program at up to 15 schools for students to earn four-year degrees . Solano Community College is one of the pilot schools , offering a biomanufacturing bachelor ’ s degree program .
“ I think it ’ s critical that they consider going back for more education . It is the skills that we need to move forward , so coming back and re-honing those skills or getting new skills is critical .”
ROBERT S . NELSEN President , Sacramento State
Walker says when the state initiated work for this program , which was signed into law in 2014 , one of the most important parts was looking at individuals already working in chosen fields who needed something a little more . And that ’ s a group that might struggle to pay for bachelor ’ s degrees at traditional institutions , Walker says . “ I saw many people over 35 , 45 , coming back to school to take those degrees so that they could move up ,” Walker says .
At $ 46 a unit — with the California Promise Program waiving fees for firsttime , full-time students of any age — the community college system might be the least expensive way to pursue a second career . “ You can get the same skills and education and experience by doing the classes at community college ,” says Esposito-Noy . “ So I really recommend it .”
Brian King , chancellor of Los Rios Community College District , agrees . “ Community colleges are just tailormade to support students who are ready to make a change in their lives ,” says King ( a member of Comstock ’ s Editorial Advisory Board ).
A variety of courses at junior colleges might appeal to older students , and King points to an associate degree in culinary work offered at two Los Rios colleges — American River College and Cosumnes River College . Amy Schulz , dean of Career , Continuing , and Technical Education at Sierra College in Rocklin , says her school ’ s IT security and data analytics programs attract “ a lot of those second-act professionals .”
An associate or bachelor ’ s degree from a community college isn ’ t the only option , though . Murphy says those seeking a new career comprise about a quarter of people enrolled in certificate programs at Sacramento State , and the university is considering accelerating programs into boot camps that could start at nontraditional times in the academic world .
“ People don ’ t lose their jobs , they don ’ t get laid off , we don ’ t have pandemics on a semester schedule ,” Murphy says . “ For us as an institution , we have to look at how can we continue to offer things that meet people where they ’ re at , not just with their needs but with their schedules as well .”
John Jackson , president of Rocklinbased William Jessup University , foresees more certificate programs as the economy continues to struggle . “ I think you ’ re going to find a much more symbiotic relationship between the educational establishment and the corporate world in the years to come as the economy shifts rapidly ,” Jackson says .
The movement toward certificates isn ’ t without concern for some . Su Jin
56 comstocksmag . com | February 2021