Serving the Adult Learner: Increasing Opportunities & Improving Lives Karen Steinberg Executive Vice President Council for Adult & Experiential Learning (CAEL) SHEEO Professional Development Conference August 17, 2005

What is CAEL? Non-profit national organization established in members Offices in Chicago, Denver, New York, Philadelphia Diverse projects operating in nearly every state

CAEL’s Mission CAEL pioneers learning strategies for individuals and organizations. We advance lifelong learning in partnership with educational institutions, employers, labor organizations, government, and communities. CAEL works to remove policy and organizational barriers to learning opportunities, and identifies and disseminates effective practices.

Adult Learners Employers and Unions Government and Community Colleges and Universities CAEL Connects: CAEL’s Workforce Development Work CAEL’s Lifelong Learning Work CAEL’s Public Policy Work

The Adult Learner

Why Should States be Adult Learners? Estimate that 38-45% of currently enrolled undergraduate degree seeking students have one or more characteristics of an “adult” Estimate 68M adults (1/3 of adults 16 and older) took formal courses or training outside of traditional degree programs in

Why Should States be the Adult Learner? 56% of U.S. Population aged has some education beyond high school 16% of adults in US have not completed high school…in 5 states 1 in 5 has not completed high school and in an additional 12 states 1 in 6 has not 70-80% of jobs in the near future will require some education beyond high school

Why Should States be the Adult Learner? Top States in the nation: 5.4% of their working age adults (25-49) enrolled in postsecondary education (Measuring Up 2002). This level of Adult Learning Engagement Will Not Meet States’ Workforce Needs in the Coming Years.

Adult Learner Barriers Institutional: Policies and Practices that impede and discourage adult learners Situational: Adult Learner’s life situation or circumstances Dispositional: Adult Learner’s personal concerns, beliefs or attitudes

Adult Learning Focused Institutions: Outreach Life/Career Planning Financing Assessment of Learning Outcomes—PLA Teaching Learning Process Student Support Systems Technology Strategic Partnerships

Access Do State Policies encourage or hinder ‘Adult Friendly Practices’? Financial Aid for Part-time Students Equitable Funding for Community Colleges Funding for ‘non-credit’ Developmental courses Encourage Convenient Schedules & On-line Programs Services nights and weekends Recognition of Prior Learning

Public Policy Changes to Enhance Access CAEL works to change public policy:  Lifelong Learning Accounts or LiLAs  Career Pathways Initiatives

LiLAs Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLA’s) are portable, individual asset accounts to finance education (similar to 401k accounts)  Employer matches each employee dollar  Both employer and employee would receive a tax benefit for the investment Pilot demonstrations for LiLAs underway in three locations CAEL is working with state action teams to design state-based LiLA models (Maine, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Hawaii).

Career Pathways Initiatives A career pathway:  links educational programs with work, on-the-job training, and support services to enable workers to earn wages and attend college.  identifies jobs of importance to local employers.  brings together the resources needed to prepare workers to qualify for these positions.  provides stepping-stones for the entry and advancement of workers.

CAEL’s Experience Building Career Pathways CAEL has helped state community college systems to build sector- specific career pathways and ensure that colleges have infrastructure in place to support these pathways. CAEL created the Collaboration Tool Kit for use with multi- stakeholder action teams.

Examples of State-Level/ System Policy Change Kentucky: CAEL Developed Asset Map for Governor Patton’s “Poverty to Opportunity” Summit and Works with KCTCS on Career Pathways Louisiana: CAEL Assisted Governor’s Workforce Commission with Inventory of Adult Learning Programs in State Ohio: KnowledgeWorks Foundation Using CAEL and ALFI Tools as Resource for Building Career Pathways for Twelve Community Colleges and Targeted Industries

Workforce Development CAEL works with over 60 companies and their employees in 40 states. CAEL administers $130 million in tuition assistance benefits to 400,000 learners annually across the country and internationally. CAEL advises over 150,000 employees annually about how and where to return to college to use their tuition benefits.

Influencing Employers’ Policies CAEL is working to increase employers’ investment in learning and tuition  Broaden tuition policies beyond job-related learning  Pay up-front through a voucher or letter of credit system rather than through reimbursement

What Else? Strategic Importance of Paying Attention to Adult Learning in State and National Priorities Link to Workforce & Economic Development—…The Pipeline won’t do it… Policy Reviews and Consistent Data Leverage Funding—Inventories and Asset Maps & Partnerships

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