Career-Family Balance is the New American Dream

Strayer University, a leading postsecondary institution for working adults, today released additional findings from its national “Success Project Survey,” which was conducted to determine what success means to Americans. The university found that the majority of adults surveyed (79 percent) view the harmonious balance of career and family as being the ultimate success in America, over power, possessions or prestige.

According to the survey, those balancing work commitments and family life encounter a number of challenges, with the top three being personal time for oneself (55 percent), distributing time and energy across career and family (51 percent), and succeeding at both career and family (49 percent).

In addition, the survey found that American men are significantly more likely than American women to believe that balancing a career and family is the ultimate success in America (82 percent vs. 76 percent). There were no differences in findings by age or location of respondents.

“Working adults view life holistically but, according to our survey, 34 percent say they feel guilt over neglecting their family or career,” said Dr. Michael Plater, president of Strayer University. “This is especially poignant for working adults who have made the decision to go back to school to earn an academic degree. In addition to setting boundaries and determining what compromises can be made that will reap benefits in the long-term, we encourage working adults to lean on their personal support network – which at Strayer University, includes Success Coaches – and communicate about the importance of their goals and what level of support works best for them.”

Strayer University Success Coaches are trained to counsel and guide students through their higher education journey, from registration to graduation. Success Coaches help Strayer University students clearly identify perceived barriers to achieving their academic and career goals and assist them in finding solutions to overcome them. This includes mentoring and support with financial advice, goal setting, career guidance, time management and other skills.

With 43 percent of Americans having yet to accomplish their life goals and 39 percent saying that a strong network is key to success, Success Coaches help amplify the support of family and friends, especially for those that are returning to school while balancing a career and family.

“With the holidays in full swing and as we prepare for a new year, we know that many adults are thinking of making choices to improve their lives and the lives of their loved ones,” said Dr. Plater. “No matter what steps you take towards success, it is never too late to engage and show gratitude for your support network, as well as incorporate life balance.”

Celebrating more than 120 years since its founding in Baltimore, Strayer University offers relevant and rigorous academic programs to working adults, first-generation college students and others who may not have had access to higher education, preparing them for success in today’s competitive job market. Strayer University graduates earn degrees in programs ranging from business administration and accounting to education and information systems.

Strayer University’s national success-focused survey is one piece of the University’s overarching ‘Success Project,’ a new initiative aimed at breaking down perceived barriers that can keep individuals from succeeding in their personal and professional lives. In addition to a partnership with talk show host Steve Harvey, the campaign features an inspirational SoulPancake video series exploring the topic of success.

For more information about the Success Project and Strayer University, go to www.strayer.edu.

About Strayer University

Strayer University has been in operation since 1892, and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business administration, accounting, economics, information systems, information technology, human resource management, education, health services administration, public administration, management and criminal justice to working adult students. Strayer University also offers an executive MBA online through its Jack Welch Management Institute. For more information, visit www.strayer.edu or call 1-888-4-STRAYER (888-478-7293).

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***MEDIA NOTE: Please contact Cristina Henley at cristina.henley@strayer.edu, work: (703) 561-1913, or cell: (703) 431-3691 for media interviews related to Strayer University’s Success Project.

Research conducted by Ipsos

These are findings from an Ipsos poll conducted for Strayer University from August 5-12, 2014. For the survey, a sample of 2,011 Americans ages 18+ was interviewed online. The precision of the Strayer/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points for all adults.