Adult Student Identity in an Intergenerational Community College Classroom

What is the nature of an adult student identity? Based in social constructivist theory, this study explored coconstructed understandings of culturally and socially mediated student identities through a select group of adult undergraduates in intergenerational community college classroom contexts. Key findings elaborated the coconstruction of two interwoven dimensions— positional and relational adult student identities reflecting multilayered, multisourced, and, at times, paradoxical beliefs and understandings of self, position, and relationships. Key elements and dynamics of these positional and relational identities for adult students are presented, including unique findings of a belief in an ideal student image as a referent to one’s actions and beliefs as well as using a referent of the younger college students’ attitudes and behaviors for salient judgments of position and relational status.