Future directions of higher education are influenced by changes that have been occurring in the life cycle and "learning cycle." Traditional ages of formal education are becoming less rigidly defined, and higher education may now be viewed not only as a pre-work ritual but also as a process to be pursued by everyone from 18 to 85. Colleges need to establish more flexible study arrangements in the undergraduate years, since mature young students often have an urge to pause before attending college, interrupt their college study, or continue education while engaging in work apprenticeships. Recurrent education for adult students could serve inmates, individuals in the military service, professionals, and people who are bored with their leisure time. Sabbaticals should be offered to all workers, not just to teachers. The intellectual needs of adult students could be served by having residence halls for retirees or apartments for people 45 and older, arrangements already implemented by the State University of New York system. For others, education could be taken to nursing homes and retirement villages. To serve nontraditional groups of students, new courses, schedules, locations, and staff attitudes need to be developed. (SW)