A variety of programs exist that provide assistance to underprepared and at-risk students at 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education. One of these programs is Student Support Services (SSS), a federal program funded by the U. S. Department of Education. The SSS program provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education. The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants and help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next. SSS may also provide assistance to students receiving Federal Pell Grants (84.063). Those eligible to participate in SSS programs include students from low-income families, those who are first-generation college enrollees and students with disabilities evidencing academic need. The program includes tutoring; academic counseling, personal counseling, career advising; study skills enhancement and personal development workshops. Assistance is also given to students to apply for various forms of financial aid, including state and federal grant programs and local scholarships. Most programs also provide cultural enrichment activities. This study investigates the impact of the SSS program on the retention of students at SKCTC. Participants in this study were 125 students in the SSS program and 125 non-SSS students who entered SKCTC in the fall of 2003 and ended in 2007. The study compares the demographic profile of these groups.

Nontraditional students continue to grow as a population in universities across North America. These individuals are characterized as twenty-five years of age or older, have taken time off from school, and usually hold a job outside of their school duties. With our increased immersion in online environments, many individuals earning an educational degree through online participation, and previous studies calling upon further research, we decided to investigate this line of research. Specifically, the present study seeks to understand the motivational factors seen between traditional and nontraditional students, with an emphasis on intrinsic motivation. The results suggest that nontraditional students are primarily motivated by intrinsic motivators, while traditional students are driven by intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. These findings are further examined in the discussion.

<p>The agriculture industry relies heavily on credit to facilitate investments in essential inputs such as equipment, seeds, and fertilizers. Traditional sources of credit, including commercial banks and the Farm Credit System (FCS), have long served as the primary options for farmers. However, nontraditional lenders like agricultural retailers have emerged as viable financing alternatives. This study examines how farmers utilize the FCS, commercial banks, and agricultural retailers to finance capital and expendable goods. Additionally, factors such as age, education, farm size, and managing preferences are evaluated to understand their impact on financing choices. An ordered logit regression model is employed to analyze the data and investigate the factors influencing farmers' decisions. The results reveal that as farmers age, they are more likely to finance capital goods through vendors/retailers due to established long-term relationships. Smaller farms tend to finance a higher percentage of capital costs, driven by the relative price per unit of capital goods. Farmers who prioritize cost control are inclined to rely less on agricultural retailers, aiming for a lower debt-to-asset ratio. The study findings also indicate that analytical decision makers borrow less from dealers compared to intuitive decision makers. Notably, as farm size increases, farmers are more likely to finance a larger portion (76-100%) of capital and expendable goods through dealer financing. This suggests that larger and more successful farms possess a more diverse portfolio and valuable assets, enabling greater borrowing capacity. Young and beginning farmers often use vendor financing to enhance credit and expand their collateralizable assets. However, participant bias and missing data on several variables limit the study's scope. Future research could delve deeper into the relationship between analytical decision makers and farmers' lending preferences. Additionally, given the growing shift toward online banking in the lending and finance industry, exploring farmers' online banking usage and predictions for future usage would provide valuable insights into their lender selection process. </p>

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This project examined several research questions using survey research of men working in nursing at a Midwestern hospital corporation. The first is why do men enter a nontraditional occupation, such as nursing? Second, what are their experiences working in nursing, as a nontraditional occupation for men? What problems do they encounter, such as discrimination or stereotyping? What advantages do they enjoy, such as promotions or preferential treatment? Third, what factors cause men to stay in nursing for long periods of time? Answers to these questions can help us understand how more men might be recruited to enter nursing, including breaking down the challenges men in nursing might face.

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This study examined patient outcomes from accidents involving nontraditional motorized vehicles. A total of 558 patients aged >17 years were observed retrospectively. The study groups were divided by age. The Adult Trauma Group (ATG) (N=452) consisted of patients aged 18-64 years and the Elderly Trauma Group (ETG) (N=106) consisted of patients aged ≥65 years. All-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents were the most common (N=437, 78%) among both study groups and also the primary cause of death, with 17 deaths (4%). The most common discharge disposition was home or self-care (routine discharge) with 427 patients (77%). The mortality rate of the total population was 4.1% (23 total deaths). There was a statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay (p=0.03) and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (p=0.03) between the two groups and patients ≥65 years were statistically more likely to be discharged to a care facility vs. home. Nontraditional motorized vehicles continue to grow in popularity in all ages and the effect of age on patient outcomes after injury is an important area to evaluate.

The aim of this study was to understand the factors that affect returning students' ability to complete their degrees through online degree programs. Logistic regression was used to determine which factors had a significant relationship with persistence to graduation and how they contributed to the odds of students graduating. The findings show that academic locus of control and academic self-efficacy had a significant positive relationship with returning student persistence to graduation, with the locus of control contributing to the odds of graduation more than self-efficacy. Additionally, the amount of time between the student's initial dropout and subsequent return to complete their degree generally had a negative relationship with graduation. The reason for re-enrollment also affected the likelihood of graduation. This study informs educational leaders of the unique needs of students who have completed some college and informs them of interventions that will increase their likelihood of graduating.

The academic demands of college can be strenuous. Nontraditional students in particular may be at risk for role conflict and overload. This study examines levels of academic stressors and reactions to stressors between traditional and nontraditional undergraduate college students in order to investigate the relationships between academic stress, time management behaviors and overall psychological adjustment between the two groups. Participants completed Gadzella's (1991) Student-Life Stress Inventory, Time Management Behaviors Scale (Macan, Shahani, Dipboye, & Phillips, 1990) and the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (Derogatis, 1994). Results reveal significant differences between traditional and nontraditional students on a subscale of the Time Management Behavior Scale measuring the ability to set goals and prioritize. Additionally, a marginally significant difference between traditional and nontraditional students was found on another subscale of the Time Management Behavior Scale measuring the mechanics of time management. These results indicate students who maintain multiple life-roles and responsibilities in addition to their role of college student are better at identifying and setting goals that need to be accomplished and prioritizing the tasks required to meet these goals. Furthermore, these students may be more adept at the mechanics involved with time management such as making list and scheduling activities in advance.

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