Editing Nontraditional student (section)

==Definition and history==
It is uncertain exactly how or when the term “nontraditional student” was first incorporated into educational language. However, it is thought that [[K. Patricia Cross]] is responsible for the phrase becoming the accepted and appropriate term to describe adult students.<ref name="llearner">{{cite journal |last=Ross-Gordon |first=J.M. |year=2011 |title=Research on adult learners: Supporting the needs of a student population that is no longer nontraditional |url=http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-wi11/prwi11_rossgordon.cfm |journal=Peer Review |volume=29 |pages=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326000000/http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-wi11/prwi11_rossgordon.cfm |archive-date=26 March 2024 |access-date=2 October 2013}} [https://ir.vnulib.edu.vn/bitstream/123456789/4185/1/4.%20Reseach%20on%20Adult%20Learners.pdf Alt URL]</ref> In the United States, gender was a defining characteristic of nontraditional students, with women (particularly older women) being viewed as unusual; but gender is no longer a defining characteristic of nontraditional students in the United States due to women making up most of the college population and the decline of male students.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=4}}

Scholars disagree on the exact definition of nontraditional. Modern defining characteristics usually include social traits and age. Most studies agree that [[undergraduates]] age 23 or older are classified as nontraditional.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Stephanie |first=Babb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=32h2EAAAQBAJ |title=Meeting the Needs of Nontraditional Undergraduate Students |date=2022-06-10 |publisher=IGI Global |isbn=978-1-7998-8325-8 |language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|page=|pages=1-7}} Most studies also agree that [[Part-time student|part-time students]] are nontraditional, but there is disagreement in literature.<ref name=":2" />{{Rp|page=11}} 

According to [[National Center for Education Statistics]] (NCES) other defining characteristics of nontraditional students are:<ref name="nces.ed.gov" />
*Delays enrollment (does not enter postsecondary education in the same calendar year that high school ended)
*Works full-time (35 hours or more per week) while enrolled
*Is considered financially independent for purposes of determining eligibility for financial aid
*Has dependents other than a spouse (usually children, but may also be caregivers of sick or elderly family members)
*Does not have a high school diploma (completed high school with a GED or other high school completion certificate or did not finish high school)
*Working professionals seeking to advance their careers or transition to a new field
*Returning students who have taken a break from their studies
*Returns to school after starting a family
*Returns to school from military service
*Attends school while serving in the military
*Starts college at an older age, usually 23 or older