Serving the adult learner

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

By the year 2018, it is estimated that nearly 70 percent of jobs in Nebraska will require some type of postsecondary education? To meet that need, Nebraska must increase the number of its citizens who have a college education.

I am devoting this week's column to the segment of Nebraska's population that could help our state meet future job needs--adults aged 25-64 who went to college but left without finishing a degree. This group of individuals represents over 236,000 Nebraskans.

According to 2010 census data, the percentage of working-age Nebraskans with a two-year or four-year degree inched upward from 38.1 percent in 2009 to 38.3 percent in 2010. While this increase is a start, it's not enough to meet a growing need for more Nebraska workers with college degrees.

If you are one of the 236,000 Nebraskans who started, but never finished a degree, I encourage you to go back to college. By obtaining a degree, you would help fill future job needs, but more importantly, you could potentially provide a better life for you and your family.

Going back to college can be difficult, especially when dealing with family and financial responsibilities, limited time and tight budgets. We are fortunate to have many colleges in Nebraska that offer special programs for adult learners including online degree programs, flexible schedules, shortened academic calendars, and the opportunity to develop specific work-related skills.

Some employers offer educational incentives that range from targeted training to partial or full tuition reimbursement. Financial assistant can go a long way in helping you meet your goal of a higher education.

Educational benefits are also available for another segment of adult learners in our state--military veterans. We have over 20,000 veterans from the Gulf War Post 9/11 era in Nebraska, yet very few are taking advantage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit to attend Nebraska institutions. If you are a veteran, many Nebraska colleges have established programs to help you work through the process required to access military education benefits.

For any adult learner, it can be difficult to take that first step toward completing a degree program. That's why I encourage you to seek out the services of EducationQuest Foundation -- a nonprofit organization that provides free services and programs to help Nebraskans make college possible.

Over the next two months, EducationQuest will be spreading the word about the free services they provide specifically for adult learners. You can learn about those services now by visiting www.EducationQuest.org/AdultLearner.