TY - JOUR AU - Lee, Nicole Elizabeth PY - 2017/12/14 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - The Part-Time Student Experience: Its Influence on Student Engagement, Perceptions, and Retention JF - Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education JA - CJSAE VL - 30 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://cjsae.library.dal.ca/index.php/cjsae/article/view/5392 SP - 1-18 AB - <p>Part-time learners have had a history of campus isolation, fewer opportunities to engage on campus, and much higher attrition rates than their full-time peers (Jacoby, 2015; Rajasekhara &amp; Hirsch, 2000). As a result, this study sought to uncover effective ways of enhancing the academic and social experiences of part-time learners and, in turn, increase retention rates. The attitudes, experiences, perceived needs, and challenges of 41 part-time students at a large Canadian community college during the fall 2015 semester were captured through an anonymous survey. From the data gathered, effective ways to enhance the college experiences of part-time students were identified and a relationship between school affinity and a part-time learner’s motivation to remain in school and persist to graduation were established. Recommendations resulting from this study centre on <span>flexibility, availability, and student choice for post-secondary programs, courses, services, and social events aimed at part-time learners.<em>  </em></span></p> ER -