HOW IDENTITY SHAPES COLLEGE PREPARATION - Supporting the Adult Learner and the Exiting Military Member’s Journey to College

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

Document provides a college-preparation support overview linking identity and learning needs for adult learners and exiting military members. It includes land acknowledgement, introductions of program coordinators, project background, and a key-language section defining relevant acronyms and transition terms. It outlines identity profiles (education range, learning preferences, family and career decisions, rapid identity shift) plus learning styles (auditory, tactile, visual) and a support-resource framework for finding friends and places on campus.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Land Acknowledgement

Introductions

Project Background

Key Language

Identity

Identity Profiles

Learning Styles

Terms and Support Words to Search

HOW IDENTITY SHAPES COLLEGE PREPARATION Supporting the Adult Learner and the Exiting Military Member’s Journey to College LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We acknowledge that the land on which we gather today is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. INTRODUCTIONS Melanie Burton, Academic Upgrading Program Coordinator Laura Julien, Financial Aid & Digital Admissions Officer Jessica Boldt, General Education Elective Coordinator Poll 1 Poll 2 PROJECT BACKGROUND • Our strengths as an AU team in supporting Adult Learners • Our own gap in knowledge on how to support Military Members (currently serving, transitioning, Veterans) • Skills for Success Funding Opportunity • 3 Resources Created: • Who Are You as an Adult Learner • Guide for Military Personnel Transitioning to Academic Upgrading and Postsecondary • Supporting Military Members from Service to School KEY LANGUAGE • Acronyms: • CAF – Canadian Armed Forces • VAC – Veterans Affairs Canada • CO – Commanding Officer • CAF LTD – CAF Long Term Disability • My Transition Guide • CAF TG/TU/TC-Transition Group/Unit/Center • MFRC – Military Family Resource Centre • Military Member vs. Soldier • Military Exit: Voluntary vs. Medical IDENTITY Common characteristics include: • Education level ranges from grade 10 to university. • Prefers tactile or visual learning based styles. • Priorities will include managing family life and making career and housing decisions in short succession. • May not have enjoyed school originally and may have used the Military as a pathway to gain a career in an alternate way. • Experiencing a rapid shift in identity. IDENTITY Military Connected Neurodivergent LGBTQ2S+ Indigenous Newcomer Adult Student | Terms | Support Words to Search | Finding Friends | Finding Places | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Athlete | Sport name AND College
Sport name AND
Scholarships AND Ontario | Student Association, Recreational Teams, Sport name AND “College name”AND Registration dates | “College name” AND Gym facilities
“College name” AND Athletics and recreation
City/Town name AND Gym/Fitness Centre | | Indigenous | Indigenous initiatives, Aboriginal student association, | “College name” AND indigenous hub | City/Town name AND Indigenous resources | | | Student group, Indigenous resource | City/Town name AND Friendship centre | City/Town name AND Indigenous wellness | LEARNING STYLES As an auditory learner, you might hum or talk to yourself or others while you work. People may think you are not paying attention, but you are hearing everything being said. As a tactile learner, you tend to find reasons to fidget or move around when you become bored—which others interpret as being distracted. As a visual learner, you also tend to be neat and clean—too much visual chaos can cause you to feel anxiety.

FAQs

Who is this college-preparation material intended to support?

It supports adult learners and exiting military members, including those currently serving, transitioning, and veterans.

What learning needs are highlighted in the document?

It describes auditory, tactile, and visual learning styles and notes how each style can be misunderstood in traditional settings.

Which acronyms and transition terms are defined in the key language section?

The document defines acronyms such as CAF, VAC, CO, CAF LTD, and others, along with transition-related terms like Military Member versus Soldier and exit pathways.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang