All NEW TRADITION!!!

In a day and age where people would rather converse through text message and instant messaging rather than speak on the telephone, and a professional can work out of their home than from a cubicle it is evident that the notion of traditional is changing. How has the collegiate atmosphere changed?
Two times in the past month I have heard an older individual criticize younger students about not understanding how the real world works. They base their comment on the fact that they are “non-traditional” students and have incite into the working world that they falsely presumed “traditional” students lacks. What is the distinction between “traditional” and “non-traditional” students?
Ten years ago there were two distinct types of collegiate students. The first designation “traditional” were students that were in their early twenties, fresh out of high school, and infrequently had a part-time job. The second designation “non-traditional” were students that were middle aged, had families to care for, had been in the professional world previously, and usually were currently a full-time employee and a part-time evening college student.
Do these classifications fit today - - NO!!! With soaring tuition rates, rising housing costs, and soaring gas prices more and more students, no matter the age, have part-time or full-time jobs to hedge the expenses of pursuing higher education. This work experience gained by younger students fulfills more knowledge into the real world, and falsifies the notions that a young individual does not understand how the real world works. More young people have children at a young age, and continue their dreams of a college degree. With this in mind those lines between tradition and non-tradition are faded and in areas totally dissolved. With this new definition and shifting demographics it would seem the new age “non-traditional student” would be the older “tradition”. So how can universities cater to these changing demographics?
The most effective way would be to lower tuition rates, and not burden students to accumulate tremendous debt in pursuing the American dream; however, we all know that this is not going to happen. Another more realistic alternative is to enhance the “non-traditional” learning environment. “Non-traditional” learning consists of anything beyond the usual 16-week classroom setting. Offering more courses that are conducted online, sorter condensed 8-week programs, intersession week long programs, and a wider range of late evening courses are all areas that would enhance and expand the learning experience for the new age “traditional” students. It is a new and evolving environment, and traditional universities should evolve with their students.