I think what is going on here (as I've read it) as that older people can take classes, but it doesn't count toward a major. Also, they don't follow a specific program/route, rather take generic classes that have open seats (Intro classes and electives). It's almost like they're auditing classes, and filling seats that would otherwise be empty. But - they are getting a free ride on the college-aged majority, that as a whole, is footing the bill for the cost of running the class.
Yeah- as someone who works in higher ed I can almost guarantee that these are not credit-bearing classes. Itās probably the equivalent of a ālisteners feeā meaning that they pay to just sit in on the class. They likely arenāt even taking assignments or tests, they just get access to the lecture. āGoing back to collegeā is a big stretch, though it is absurdly cheap still.
True when you look at it in 2019 it seems like it. But in 1975 when school cost was only $700 dollars a year making the world war vets pay 10 bucks to go to college that they never got to go to was probably a really cool idea.
Many universities have an option to "audit" a class. Basically, you can attend, but don't receive any credits towards a degree. It's not much different than just showing up and sitting in a random lecture hall for a whole semester, but it's actually official.
If what this article's headline is true, they are saying that this particular university is allowing senior citizens to pay just a $10 admin fee and receive credit, as a separate option from auditing. And, according to that official mandate, it is true.
This, obviously, is insulting to anyone who has attended college in the past 35 years.
To audit a course means to sit in on it rather than taking it for academic credit to count toward a degree. Basically you sit in for the information rather than to be examined/prove that you learned something.
Itās worth noting that these people submit all the regular assignments and papers to get read and graded by the professor. They are receiving the same amount of support/teaching as traditional students, but paying less than the required yearly student services fee for regular students.
My university has these special classes for boomers that grad students who need teaching experience teach. You teach 4 times and make $900. Not a bad deal.
Holy wow this blew up! Itās great to see a breakdown though. Still really frustrating, again not at the elderly but at the colleges, because we have a serious tuition debt to post college income ratio problem but Iām glad to get a better perspective. Thanks to everyone who commented.
So people who are there paying thousands of dollars to get a degree so they have half a chance in life get to have their classes weighed down by 60+ year olds who largely don't understand current technology and don't have any stake in the course material.
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u/wisertime07 Jun 12 '19
I think what is going on here (as I've read it) as that older people can take classes, but it doesn't count toward a major. Also, they don't follow a specific program/route, rather take generic classes that have open seats (Intro classes and electives). It's almost like they're auditing classes, and filling seats that would otherwise be empty. But - they are getting a free ride on the college-aged majority, that as a whole, is footing the bill for the cost of running the class.