Obstacles to funding higher education for adults: An analysis of selected Pennsylvania voters
Open Access
- Author:
- Rutter, III, J. Paul
- Graduate Program:
- Adult Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Education
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- January 11, 2013
- Committee Members:
- Fred Michael Schied, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Fred Michael Schied, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Melody M Thompson, Committee Member
Edgar I Farmer Sr., Committee Member
Dennis Karl Davis, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Financial Aid
Voters
Politics - Abstract:
- The purpose was to gain an understanding of how selected registered voters in Pennsylvania consider funding higher education for adults. The strategy involved online sampling as well as controlling for political identity. The study asks three questions: Among selected Pennsylvanians, is there support for a proposal to alter public funding of higher education for adults? Do opinions about higher education funding for adults vary depending upon race, gender, age, ethnicity, education attainment, and other demographic indicators of selected Pennsylvanians? Does political party affiliation or political party orientation (using a scale of affiliation) affect attitudes toward funding adult higher education? The study population was persons of voting age in Pennsylvania with access to the Internet who participate on a listserv or blog. The results showed two-thirds of all respondents in the sample were supportive of the proposal in a fictitious news story regarding a funding change. Lower income participants and women were more supportive of the change. The three measures of political identity yielded similar numbers for each political party. The study results may not change adults access to education, but could begin to challenge current policy that neglects financial aid for adult students. The findings suggest a path of action for higher education institutions with a desire to create or enhance adult programs because the percentage of traditional-aged students is decreasing. The study may suggest steps for those who make programming decisions on campuses as well as state and federal legislators.