The Other 85 Percent

I have previously posted about the education positions of the presidential candidates and criticized both candidates for failing to address the needs of adult, part-time, and financially independent students—the other 85%.  In a comment to my August 4 blog post, one person suggested that I was expressing my “political loyalties” and asserting the other 85 [...]

I have previously checked the Web sites of presidential candidates to see if they even acknowledge the other 85 percent of higher education students that are the reality today. As of July 25, 2008, neither candidate has indicated any awareness of part-time, adult, or working college students. Their focus is on PK-12 education, [...]

Recently, I posted a review of the major presidential candidates’ positions on education. I expressed disappointment that little attention was given to higher education and, in particular, to higher education for adults and independent part-time students. On Monday, Senator Obama made a speech on competitiveness that included references to education.

The premise of The Other 85 Percent is that public opinion and public policy making regarding higher education still focus on what is now a distinct minority of higher education students. That minority is the student who goes directly from high school to study full-time on a traditional campus. Too little attention is [...]