Educating Adults (NAPSA)—Learning something about education may payoff for you. For one thing, it’s increasingly popular for people beyond college age to get degrees. Only about 27 percent of working adults in the U.S. have college degrees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Adults with a bachelor’s degree have an unemployment rate of about half that of those with only a high school diploma, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bachelor’s degree holders also makeat least 40 percent more. One place many adults turn to is Strayer University. This 119year-old accredited university has more than 90 campuses nation- wide and online. The school provides high-quality, postsecondary education in business administration, accounting, information tech- nology, education, health services administration, public administration and human resource management for working adults. Online classes follow either a real-time or an anytime—24-hour-a-day, sevenday-a-week—format. The courses offer students the flexibility needed to fit classes into a busy life. Classroom and online instruction can be combined and tutoring is free for all students. To further help students, Dr. Deborah Snyder, senior vice provost of academic programs, Strayer University, offers some essential tips for parents to consider when returningto college: *Talk with your spouse— The additional time devoted to going to classes, studying and preparing for exams may require a shift in responsibilities. *Tap into your network— Create a network of support consisting of friends and extended family to help with important household considerations, such as child care. Many adults are discovering they can get the advanced degree they need. Make your children part of the team—Children love to have a sense of responsibility and to be helpful to their parents. Explain your educational goals to them and help them understand how they can help you succeed. Group study sessions are one way to create a parent-child bond. Plan ahead—Inventory your home logistics: chores, meals, child care, children’s activities and exercise routines. Plan for a shift in the division of responsibilities while you are in school. Make sure everyoneinvolved understands. *Review the family budget—Will you pay for college out of savings, borrow money or be reimbursed by your employer? Talk to school advisors and others to determine what makes the mostsense for you. Consider your present lifestyle—Returning to school will require a commitment to spend some of the time you were spending on other activities, including yourchildren’s extracurricular activities. If you’ve been out of school awhile, getting back into the habit of studying will likely take a focused effort on the part of the entire family. More Information Learn more at www.strayer.edu and (888) 378-7293.
