The “student swirl” — a pattern of undergraduates moving among institutions before earning a degree — has been part of higher-ed conversations for more than a decade. But today’s swirl looks different. It now encompasses a far broader population: adult learners returning after years away from college, dual-enrollment students earning college credit before they finish high school, and working adults seeking short-term certificates rather than degrees.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, transfer enrollment grew 4.4 percent in the fall of 2024 alone, and the lines between “traditional” and “nontraditional” students have blurred to the point where the old categories barely hold.

That puts real pressure on institutions built around a linear model. The question isn’t whether the swirl is real. It’s whether your institution is ready for it.

Join us on Thursday, July 9, at 2 p.m. ET to hear from a panel of administrators representing a range of institutions on what’s actually working. Whether you’re navigating stop-outs, transfer spikes, or a growing cohort of adult learners, this forum will offer candid perspectives on adapting to a student body that no longer moves in a straight line.  Register here