Holistic student support is essential for helping adult learners successfully navigate postsecondary education. Adults returning to school often balance their studies with work, family responsibilities, and financial pressures that can make academic persistence far more challenging than it is for traditional students. Recognizing the full scope of these realities is critical to ensuring that adults have the resources they need not only to enroll but also to complete their programs and transition into meaningful careers.

Adult students frequently face barriers beyond academics. They may need assistance with childcare, transportation, and flexible scheduling to make higher education attainable. Financial challenges, including tuition and the cost of living, often require targeted aid and clear guidance on navigating financial systems. In addition, many adult learners experience self-doubt or anxiety about returning to the classroom after years away, making mental health and wellness support especially valuable.

Holistic student support frameworks acknowledge that academic success depends on addressing these intersecting needs. Colleges that embed advising, career counseling, tutoring, and personal support within a coordinated structure are more likely to see adult learners succeed. When students feel supported as whole people, not just as names on a class roster, their persistence and completion rates rise.

For institutions, investing in holistic student support is not just the right thing to do for learners—it is also a workforce imperative. Michigan and the nation face urgent demands for skilled talent. Ensuring that adult learners can start, stay, and succeed in higher education is essential to meeting employer needs and strengthening local communities. By designing systems that account for the realities of adult life, postsecondary institutions can turn access into achievement and create lasting impact for students, families, and the economy.