The study explores two research questions: Q1, What teaching methods do four-year accounting faculty use with nontraditional accounting students; and Q2, how effective do accounting faculty and students perceive those methods to be with nontraditional accounting students? Nontraditional students are defmed to be students 25 years of age or older. After interviewing 30 faculty members and surveying 53 students, a variety of different teaching methods were identified. Although, faculty indicated an inclination for lecture, they preferred group work, but did not use it because of time limitations and large class sizes. Further, the younger/traditional students preferred a variety of different teaching methods, while the older/nontraditional students preferred homework. Of particular importance was the finding according to faculty, that the wants and needs of the accounting profession did not correspond with the reasons why students major in accounting. The accounting profession wants and needs people with problem solving skills, an ability to cope with ambiguity, general business knowledge, and interpersonal skills. However, students are majoring in accounting because they want financial security, believe accounting is mathematics, like accounting's procedural nature, and believe accounting is unambiguous. Therefore, to graduate accounting students with wants and needs congruent with those of the accounting profession, accounting schools must either redirect accounting student majors or attract different students to accounting. Also of particular importance, were the differences of opinion by faculty of whether there should be an additional 30 hour educational requirement to become a CPA. While most faculty agreed that the additional education improved professional quality, and some even wanted the requirements made more stringent, perhaps similar to those to become an attorney, a significant and vocal minority of the faculty stated that they were opposed to the additional educational requirement because it would prevent poorer students from majoring in accounting because of the additional cost of the additional education. Finally, there is the issue of competition in the classroom. Most faculty indicated that competition was a fact of life in accounting, that competition needed to be used in the classroom, and that students needed to learn how to cope with it.

The present study was an attempt to further investigate what factors contributed to whether married individuals defined their relationship as traditional or nontraditional. The project, moreover, explored what variables affected marital adjustment levels. The variables whose effects were assessed regarding whether married individuals defined their relationship as traditional or nontraditional included self-actualization and presence or absence of children. The factors examined thought to affect marital adjustment levels were self-actualization, subjective definition of the relationship as traditional or nontraditional, and presence or absence of children.

Undergraduate enrollment in colleges and universities has grown and changed drastically over the past 2 decades, with a significant portion of this growth coming from the increased number of nontraditional students who have made the decision to make their way onto college and university campuses to pursue a college degree. Due to these changes, many institutions of higher education have had to rethink the way they have historically operated. In an attempt to better meet the needs and demands of adult nontraditional students, colleges and universities have reviewed their existing programs and instituted programs that allow for the awarding of academic credit for prior learning. For those institutions of higher education involved in the prior learning assessment (PLA) process and interested in providing a quality program, an increased emphasis and focus should be on the importance of determining what a learning activity is, and more importantly, what constitutes college-level learning. This study focused on the identification and profiling of prior learning assessment (PLA) processes in Texas public universities offering nontraditional baccalaureate degree programs, the identification of commonalties among such programs, and the determination of program quality based on established standards. The instrument utilized in this study was designed on Urban Whitaker's 10 Standards of Good Practice. The population consisted of those public institutions of higher education in Texas that offer the Texas CIP code 30.9999.40 - Applied Arts and Sciences - baccalaureate degree. A within-stage mixed-model methodology was used. Open-ended questions were used to strengthen the data obtained from the quantitative portion. This research study suggests that, although there are similarities with regards to the types of PLA processes used in the awarding of PLA credit, many of the organizations could benefit from an evaluation of their current policies, procedures, and/or common practices related to the process of awarding credit via prior learning assessment as they relate to overall quality.

The study is oriented to explore the general characteristics of agriculture, the biological control as a pest control mechanism and agro export industry. In this context, we try to promote the use of biological control as a strategy to support nontraditional exports related to products such as asparagus and fresh avocados grown in the La Libertad Department (Peru), through an agronomic and management approach. Biological control is the basis of integrated pest management (IPM) and contributes to the conservation of agricultural ecosystems allowing to export companies reduce costs, fulfill international phytosanitary measures and supports the preservation of the environment and health. Thus, the Peruvian agro export companies could build a sustainable competitive advantage and seek a positioning as socially responsible firms. We analyze variables such as crop statistics, comparative costs between biological control and chemical control, main destination markets for asparagus and fresh avocados, international standards, among others. / El estudio se orienta a explorar las características generales de la actividad agrícola, el control biológico como mecanismo de control de plagas y la industria agroexportadora. En este contexto, se intenta promover el uso del control biológico como estrategia para apoyar las exportaciones no tradicionales de productos referentes, como lo son el espárrago y las paltas frescas cultivadas en el departamento de La Libertad (Perú). Ello se realiza mediante un enfoque gerencial y agronómico. Con respecto al control biológico, este es la base del manejo integrado de plagas (MIP) y contribuye a la conservación de los ecosistemas agrícolas, permitiendo a las empresas exportadoras reducir costos, cumplir con las medidas fitosanitarias internacionales y apoyar la preservación del ambiente y la salud. De esta manera, las empresas agroexportadoras peruanas podrían construir una ventaja competitiva sostenible y buscar un posicionamiento como firmas socialmente responsables. A lo largo de este estudio, se analizaron variables, tales como estadísticas de los cultivos, costos comparativos entre control biológico y control químico, principales mercados de destino de los espárragos y paltas frescas, la normatividad internacional, entre otros aspectos.

Recently, some men have taken their wives' last names upon marriage rather than following tradition. The goal of this study was to examine the attitudes that men and women have toward these nontraditional men. Ideological hegemony and social identity theory comprised the framework for examining participants' beliefs. A survey first elicited participants' extant sexist beliefs about men and the characteristics of a nontraditional man compared to a traditional man. An open-ended question further explored participants' opinions. The results indicated that benevolent sexism influences respondents' attitudes towards nontraditional men and that most respondents view nontraditional men as more nurturing and committed to their marriage than traditional men. The results further revealed a dichotomy of positive and negative attitudes towards nontraditional men indicating that society's feelings about nontraditional men are changing.

Researchers have suggested that the college student population in the United States is evolving and the number of nontraditional students is rising. New student retention and academic success were ongoing concerns at a college in the southern United States and the association of those outcomes with instructional delivery model and student type was not known. In an effort to improve new student outcomes, this study examined differences in first-quarter student retention and academic success, as measured by GPA, for courses taught strictly online or on campus, and for traditional versus nontraditional students. Guided by Bean and Metzner's conceptual model of nontraditional student attrition, this quasi-experimental study used data from 1,304 first-quarter students divided into 4 equal groups (n = 326). Groups were compared for GPA using 2x2 factorial ANOVA and for retention using chi-square tests of association. Findings showed no significant differences in retention or in the interaction between instructional delivery model and student type for GPA. A significant difference in GPA between traditional and nontraditional students, with the latter earning higher grades, was found. In addition, a bimodal grade distribution was identified in all 4 sample groups indicating the highest frequencies of students earning As and Fs, suggesting that new students either do very well or very poorly academically. Based on these findings, a white paper and presentation for campus officials was developed. The implementation of rubrics in all campus-based courses along with continuous evaluation of student performance was recommended. Positive social change may result from the use of rubrics with the new student population by increasing consistency of grading and improving understanding of expectations which may lead to better student outcomes over time.

Low retention rates for first-year students plague many higher education institutions, and are even lower among online institutions of higher education. At Athena Colleges (a pseudonym), the attrition rate can be as high as 50% in students' first academic year. To address this concern, Athena Colleges has implemented an online bridge program that addresses students' academic needs and persistence. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the bridge program in reducing the first-time student attrition rate and academic performance in their first term. Most of Athena Colleges students are nontraditional students and due to this, the theoretical framework that guided this study was Malcolm Knowles's theory of andragogy. The design of the study was a formative program evaluation using a quasi-experimental design to analyze the data, which measured the primary goal of the bridge program, the reduction of attrition of first-time students. The data used for this study was archival data provided by the institution. The data provided included academic program start date, enrollment status, secondary education credential earned, secondary credential award date, first-term GPA, bridge program status, and date of termination (if applicable) and consisted of 4,916 total records. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an ANOVA by comparing the academic performance of students who participated in the bridge program to those who did not, using a 300 student sample size for each group. The results showed there was no statistical difference between the two groups for retention, but there was a statistical difference on first term GPA. The social change implication of this study indicates that faculty and administrators must ensure that remedial academic services are in place for students who enter online programs with knowledge and skill deficits.

This study examined nontraditional student engagement into the collegiate environment on the University of Memphis (U of M) campus, specifically services and programs in the University College. The sample surveyed included 4 nontraditional undergraduate students, 1 from each grade level, aged 25 years or older. The 4 nontraditional undergraduate study participants were admitted and enrolled at the U of M. Additionally, there was 1 alumnae member included in the study. The study employed the use of multiple forms of data collection including interviews, personal and focus group, journaling, life stories, and an online campus climate survey. In order to analyze the multiple forms of data received, data analyses were broken down into 3 chapters. Each chapter revealed findings that provided answers to the initial research question. Each chapter was then further divided into themes or categories that emerged from questions and interviews. Results of the research revealed that nontraditional students did not feel active engagement with the collegiate environment was a major component contributing to the success of their academic career. Research data indicated that nontraditional students because of their maturity level are at times disappointed with their traditional counterparts and faculty in classroom activities. Further, data analyzed support nontraditional student need for more communication from campus staff as well as development of separate tutoring services and offices for nontraditional students. Additionally, findings indicated that the institution should hire faculty and staff who understand nontraditional students' learning styles and needs.

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