[AOIIsilver]

I have read both of the threads about being married or being pregnant as a PNM; and as someone who studies higher education, I want to point out a few concepts about higher education and GLO's....

First, higher education student populations are changing. Numerous studies have indicated that student populations are aging and that more and more "non-traditional" students are attending higher education. These "non-traditional" students include those students who are not only of non-traditional age but also the students who carry non-traditional responsibilities such as family and work responsibilities.

Second, higher education institutions vary in their campus climate and culture. Because of their campus climate and culture, some schools will perhaps not have as substantial increases in non-traditional students, namely highly selective 4-year liberal arts or some Research 1 universities, as others, such as community colleges and comprehensive universities.

Third, higher education itself is changing. Advances in technology coupled with the efforts to make classrooms and universities more student-centered are changing the contructs of higher education. Numerous students are accessing higher education in different ways and through different media than the traditional residential 8am-2pm campus.

Fourth, as is continually mentioned on these boards, commitment to a GLO is a lifetime commitment. The other side of that commitment coin is the GLO's responsibility to its members. That responsibility entails supporting men and women throughout their lifecycle, including growing older, getting married/having a partner (if he/she so chooses), and having children (if he/she so chooses).

Taken together, higher education students are changing, and higher education students are changing on many campuses. If GLO's wish to survive on some campuses in these times of academic/student diversification, then perhaps they had also better consider the needs of the various PNMs who will be coming to the institutions.

My academic 2 cents....
Silver