No matter what the reason adults are choosing to enter or re-enter college, the numbers speak loudly and clearly as to the motivation of this population. In terms of re-entry to college to receive a Master’s or higher, the numbers are telling.

The number of graduate students older than 5

In another national poll in December 2007, conducted for Excelsior College, 45 percent of the 1,004 adults surveyed believed ‘an online class carries the same value as a traditional-classroom class,’ and 43 percent of 1,545 chief executives and small-business owners agreed that a degree earned by distance learning ‘is as credible’ as one from a traditional campus-based program. Mr. Zogby said that differing attitudes in two polls within a year show that ‘the gap was closing‘—and he said that wasn't as surprising as it might seem. As with changing perceptions about other cultural phenomena, ‘these paradigm shifts really are moving at lightning speed’ (Blumenstyk, 2008).

John Zogby, who is cited throughout the Blumenstyk article is the author of a new book called The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream. He believes that growing technology and the advent of a new generation of learners, who he calls the “First Globals”, or those aged 18-29, represent an new age of learners, who do not like to confine themselves to geographic space (i.e. an institution). These learners like to be able to have the flexibility and international awareness that technology simply is a part of our world and must be embraced. Most importantly, though, employers are beco

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