What to Keep in Mind About Today’s Students - JEN MISHORY, Impatient Optimists

A majority of today’s students are older and nearly 30 percent are parents. Forty-two percent of today’s students come from communities of color; women make up more than half the total student population; and 40 percent of students attend part-time. Moreover, 61 percent now rely on Pell Grants to access a higher education, meaning they come from low- and moderate-income families. Today’s students know higher education is critical to a successful career, but our system isn’t evolving to meet their needs. Many navigate a complex system with little guidance; others struggle to balance out-of-school demands with educational excellence; and students must also try to pay for it all without accruing large amounts of debt. http://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2016/09/What-to-Keep-in-Mind-About-Todays-Students#.V-uo3YgrLox