Transition programs have emerged as a support for adult learners seeking college education. Adult learners' perspectives are missing in the literature on transition programs. To better support adult learners in transition programs, it is essential to understand their experiences and perspectives. Using Schlossberg's Transition Theory (Anderson, Goodman, & Schlossberg, 2012) and Cross's (1991) student barrier categorizations as a framework, this narrative study investigates the experiences of five adult learners enrolled in a transition program. The findings indicate that the relationships the participants formed through the program served as a support system, and that participation in the program led to a shift in self-perception. The participant narratives also highlight barriers to college enrollment for adult learners, such as difficulty using technology and health related issues.

Adult learners require supports and services to help them successfully transition into taking on the demands and expectations of college students. Transition programs have grown in popularity as a means to aid adult learners as they transition to higher education. Unfortunately, previous research on adult learner participation in transition programs is limited in its scope and depth. There is a need to understand how to develop transition programs to best support adult learners. Drawing on interviews and observation, this narrative study investigates program details about the funding structure, reporting measures, and development of the researched transition program. I identify fundamental elements for effective transition program design that align with adult education and transition theory. This research also points to the importance of connecting adult learners to institutions to give them a sense of mattering to the university.

Adult learners represent a growing population of students in higher education who need various types of support to successfully embark on the transition to college. One popular type of support is a transition program, which aims to promote successful entrance to higher education. This study's findings imply that, while adult learners who have participated in transition programs continue to face challenges as they attempt to pursue higher education, the connections the participants made within transition programs helped mitigate the barriers they encountered. Additionally, the narratives of adult learners in this study demonstrate the need for academic advising during the transition to college. More research on the impact and effectiveness of transition programs is needed to develop programming that meets the needs of adult learners.

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