Rebuilding The Adult Learner Ecosystem
Why it matters
43 million Americans have some college but no credential. This gap threatens economic mobility and workforce growth.
The challenge
Most colleges were designed for a different student, but today’s typical learner is older, working, and balancing family responsibilities.
The system problem
Students struggle with:
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Food insecurity
- Work schedules
The Dallas College model
Dallas College built an “adult learner ecosystem” to address those barriers.
Students receive:
- Textbooks included in tuition
- Free public transit passes
- On-campus food banks and clothing closets
- Childcare through the Bezos Academy partnership
- Partnerships with healthcare and mental health providers
Bottom line
Closing the completion gap requires redesigning higher education around the realities of adult learners.