Studying Part-Time at University: From Research to Policy to Practice

In the last few years universities in Canada have seen a noticeable decline in part-time enrollments. This trend has given rise to a number of pressing concerns regarding the needs and aspirations of part-time stu- dents and the status and future of part-time study. Unfortunately, these concerns exist against a backdrop of relatively little research on part- time university students, programs, and attendance which is useful for decisions on policy and practice. This paper highlights the results of research which examined part-time programming at Canadian universi- ties and the needs and characteristics of undergraduate student popula- tions with potential for part-time degree completion. It is argued that the mature, working, part-time learner constitutes a distinct nontraditional group, with a distinct set of educational needs and expectations. The findings suggest changes which may be necessary in university function- ing in order to better serve these student populations in the future. Results are compared with other recent research and implications for institutional policy and practice are discussed