COMMUNITY
BUS I NES S
EDUCATION
NEW PALTZ
REGIONAL
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
TOURISM
REGIONAL
REPORT
SPRING 2010
A QUARTERLY BUSINESS NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NEW PALTZ REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
NONTRADITIONAL BECOMES THE NORM Higher Education and the Adult Student
IN THIS ISSUE
10
Returning the Favor
21
The Bottom Line
24
Member Profiles: Manufacturing & Distribution
By Kelley Granger
L
ook around a college classroom these days and you may notice not everyone is fresh out of high school. Adult learners, generally categorized as those above age 22 and labeled as “nontraditional,” are fast becoming the norm, with growth expected to outpace the typical college segment. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment in degree-granting institutions is projected to increase by 19 percent between 2006 and 2017 for students above age 25, compared with an increase of just 10 percent for students younger than 25 during the same period. And these statistics don’t take into account other forms of professional development, vocational, or certificate programs. Whether expanding a knowledge base for their current career or totally switching occupations, adult learners are a growing demographic that is changing the face of higher education. Continued on p. 12
Businesses recognize the responsibility they have to the health of their communities.
US Postal Service looks at cuts, Hudson Valley counties look to pool services, NY State looks at partial park closures, and more.
Prism Solar Technologies, KIC Chemicals, Viking Industries, and Gateway Community Industries.
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