Tuition-Free College in the Context of COVID-19: TN Reconnect Adult Student Narratives

Autor/inn/en	Collom, Gresham Donald; Cooper, Ashton Ryan
Titel	Tuition-Free College in the Context of COVID-19: TN Reconnect Adult Student Narratives
Quelle	In: Journal of Student Financial Aid, 51 (2022) 1, Artikel 2 (23 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0884-9153
Schlagwörter	Adult Students; Student Experience; COVID-19; Pandemics; Adjustment (to Environment); Distance Education; Educational Quality; Tuition; Costs; Educational Policy; Paying for College; Student Financial Aid; Family School Relationship; State Programs; Tennessee + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Adult; Adults; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Studienerfahrung; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Unterweisung; Unterricht; Cost; Kosten; Politics of education; Bildungspolitik; Studienfinanzierung; Finanzielle Beihilfe; Studienförderung; Regierungsprogramm
Abstract	Utilizing narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, this study followed up with adult students who initially participated in a qualitative project, Understanding How Students Reconnect: A Longitudinal Study (Collom et al., 2021). Five participants shared their experiences as adult students during COVID-19, which included their experiences shifting to virtual learning and the broader effects of the pandemic on their lives. Our findings indicated that while students coped with the transition to virtual learning, the overall perceived quality of education dropped and forced students to make difficult family and employment decisions. Overall, the study illuminated the barriers that exist for adult students who have faced unexpected life-events and demonstrated the need for institutions to build supports for adult students beyond tuition-free college. Our findings highlight the need for supports above tuition for Tennessee Reconnect students. While Tennessee Reconnect has substantially increased adult student enrollment in the state, increased support is essential to realize the full benefits of the policy. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Center for Economic Education at the University of Louisville. Porter Building, 1905 South 1st Street, Louisville, Ky, 40292. e-mail: jsfa@louisville.edu; Web site: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jsfa/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01