1. 2.Oppurtunity
1.1. States are cutting funding for higher education.
1.1.1. The economy is recovering very slowly.
1.1.2. Along with College enrollment dropping post-recession, this has caused increased tuition and rising loans.
1.2. Increase in idled students due to trepidation over loans and job market.
1.3. More college graduates than ever have caused higher competition for jobs.
1.3.1. Most entry level jobs are increasingly requiring prior job experience.
1.4. There exists a large gap between the earnings of those with degrees compared to those without in America.
1.4.1. This creates the necessity of balancing debt accumulation against the prospects of future earnings.
2. 4. APUS
2.1. Aid provided to military students.
2.2. The Gates and Hewlett foundation grant awarded to AMU “to better understand how online education can help economically disadvantaged students”.
2.3. AMU boycotted the GI Jobs list in an effort to protect servicemen.
2.4. The static tuition rate at APUS in the face of a National rise in tuition fees.
3. Topic and Thesis.
3.1. What effect does poverty have on adult learners and how does it inhibit them from gaining higher education and a career post-graduation?
3.1.1. Although the percentage of Americans with a college degree is now greater than ever, poverty and student debt has become more debilitating for adult learners in recent years. This is caused by rising national poverty, higher tuition rates and exploding student loan debt: thus hindering the adult learner’s opportunity at education, the online learner’s access to technology and the recent college graduate’s career opportunities.
4. 1. Economy
4.1. Socio-economic status is the most important factor in individual education outcome.
4.1.1. Poverty is the best predictor of the collegiate outcome of a student.
4.2. A lot of students must take remedial courses before moving on to credit applied courses which costs money.
4.2.1. This has greater effect on learners who grew up in impoverished communities that lack proper infrastructure for educational support.
5. 3. Effects on online learners.
5.1. Minorities and women who are the head of their household are more likely to consider online education, these groups are also more likely to be affected by poverty.
5.2. Accessibility to technology.
5.3. The poverty rate of college students not living on a campus or with relatives is at 51.8%.
5.4. Online learning can help students be able to work and learn through flexibility.
6. Future/Conclusion
6.1. Nearly half of all students in America live in poverty, and the number is rising.
6.1.1. The effects of inter-generational poverty, and using education to escape the cycle.
6.1.1.1. Getting rid of poverty goes hand in hand with improving the educational support system.
6.2. A drop in the underemployment rate of graduates.
6.2.1. Growing momentum for a movement to consider education a basic human right.
6.3. How should a student plan to overcome these obstacles?
6.3.1. It is important for the adult learner to be aware of the restrictions of poverty and avoid debt while preparing themselves for their career post-graduation.