Transforming the EOP Framework for Nontraditional Online Students

As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting not only on the events of the past year but also on the larger journey of my life. Looking back over more than four decades, my blessings shine like a star-filled sky—countless and awe-inspiring. That said, my path has been far from walking up crystal stairs. Life has tested me with challenges as daunting as any Goliath, leaving me at times feeling much like Ms. Celie in The Color Purple, navigating through disappointments. Yet, like Ms. Celie, I’ve been lifted by a “don’t you dare forget who you are” community, whose unwavering support has helped me turn hardships into triumphs. These triumphs continue to shape and empower me, defining the person I am today.

We all experience pivotal turning points—moments that change the trajectory of our journey in ways we often don’t realize at the time. For Ms. Celie, a turning point came when she left with Ms. Shug, whose love and encouragement helped her discover her voice and claim her power. For me, one of those pivotal moments came in 1994, when I was accepted into Marquette University’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) as part of their Student Support Services (SSS) initiative. The program laid the foundation for me to become the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s, a master’s, and a PhD.

EOP emerged as a groundbreaking initiative in response to the campus protests sparked by the Civil Rights Movement and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marquette University’s leadership, compelled by protests led by students, faculty, and Jesuits, established EOP in 1969 to support students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds.

EOP, a federally funded TRIO program, provides essential resources such as academic tutoring, financial aid counseling, advising, and a summer bridge program to help incoming freshmen transition successfully into college life. But its impact went far beyond academics. EOP offered a holistic support system that empowered students like me—and countless others—not only to succeed but to thrive. It equipped us with the confidence and community to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of higher education and fostered a sense of belonging in spaces where we might have otherwise felt like outsiders.

Recently I read the Chloe 9 Report, Strategy Shift: Institutions Respond to Sustained Online Demand. It highlighted a crucial gap: while 60% of Chief Online Learning Officers have prioritized recruiting nontraditional students—older adults, working parents, racially diverse individuals, first-generation learners, and caregivers—institutional support systems often fall short. Academic resources like tutoring and library access may be available, but these students need more.?

As we consider how to better support nontraditional learners in online education, I couldn’t help but to reflect on the EOP SSS model I experienced nearly 30 years ago and how its principles could be applied today. By drawing on the lessons of the past, I wondered if we could adapt proven strategies from this 55 year old program to better attract and retain today’s nontraditional online learners. While the characteristics of nontraditional learners present unique challenges, none are insurmountable.?

In fact, the challenges we face today are not new—they echo the very issues that models like EOP have been designed to address for over 5 decades. The wraparound services offered by the SSS program have proven transformative for students from underrepresented backgrounds, and these same services could be equally effective for nontraditional online learners.

What would it look like to adapt the EOP framework for today’s nontraditional online learners? It simply requires reimagining its principles to meet the unique challenges of this demographic. Here are 5 ways institutions might do this:

1. Tailored Academic Support Services

• What It Looks Like: Personalized and dedicated multi-modality academic advising, coaching, tutoring, and access to discipline-specific online learning communities that align with the schedules of nontraditional learners.
• How It Helps: Many nontraditional learners balance work, family, and other responsibilities. Tailored academic services ensure they receive the support they need when they need it, without disrupting their other commitments.

2. Technology Access and Digital Literacy Training

• What It Looks Like: Programs providing affordable or loaned devices, internet subsidies, and workshops on digital tools and online learning platforms.
• How It Helps: Nontraditional learners often face barriers to technology access or lack the confidence to navigate online environments effectively. Providing resources and training levels the playing field.

3. Comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness Resources

• What It Looks Like: Virtual counseling, mindfulness programs, and resources for managing stress and burnout, tailored to online learners.
• How It Helps: Nontraditional learners often experience heightened stress due to juggling multiple roles. Accessible wellness resources can significantly enhance their resilience and success.

4. Flexible Financial Assistance Models

• What It Looks Like: Microgrants for emergencies and scholarships for part-time enrollment.
• How It Helps: Many nontraditional learners need financial support but are often ineligible for traditional aid programs due to part-time status or employment. Flexible options address these gaps.

5. Community Building and Peer Mentorship

• What It Looks Like: Multimodality mentorship programs pairing nontraditional learners with peers or alumni who understand their unique challenges. Multimodality community spaces for networking and support.
• How It Helps: Building connections fosters a sense of belonging and motivation, which can otherwise be difficult to achieve in online learning environments.

Embracing a Holistic, Empowerment-Centered Approach

A modernized EOP framework for nontraditional online learners must go beyond advising and library resources. It should focus on empowerment by addressing their academic, personal, social, and technological needs in a flexible and supportive manner. This could mean creating fully integrated online support ecosystems that not only guide learners toward their academic goals but also nurture their personal growth and resilience, equipping them for lifelong success.