Many college instructors think of their undergraduate students as adults and treat them as such. In this teaching guide, the terms adult students and adult learners refer to undergraduates who fall outside of the typical 18-24 age range, or who have life experiences and responsibilities beyond those typically expected of a college student. Understanding some of the characteristics and challenges of adult learners at Vanderbilt can enable faculty to support these students in positive ways.

Johnson, S.M. (2017). Teaching adult undergraduate students. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-adult-undergraduate-students/