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The Adult Degree Completion Challenge

Legislative and Governors’ Staff Meeting. The Adult Degree Completion Challenge. Bruce Chaloux Student Access Programs & Services Southern Regional Education Board. Higher Education in the US: Beyond the Hype. Slipped to 11 th in degree attainment globally

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The Adult Degree Completion Challenge

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  1. Legislative and Governors’ Staff Meeting The Adult Degree Completion Challenge Bruce Chaloux Student Access Programs & Services Southern Regional Education Board

  2. Higher Education in the US: Beyond the Hype • Slipped to 11th in degree attainment globally • For the first time in our history, the current generation of adults (25-34) have lower degree attainment than the previous generation (35-44) • 38% of working adults have a degree (associate’s degree or higher) • Only one state in the US has reached 50% of the working adult population holding a degree

  3. Adult Degree Attainment U.S.

  4. U.S. Degree Shortages…A National Issue • Concern about our International competitiveness • Current Administration Focus • Accountability through degree attainment • Workforce Development (two-year college initiative) • Lumina, Gates and other Foundations • Big degree targets—60% by 2025 • Re-focusing on degree completion • We can’t get there without changing current models and policies

  5. Contributing to the Goal: Average Annual % Increase in Degree Production Needed Sources: NCES, IPEDS 2006-07 Completions File; c2007_a Early Release Data File Downloaded 04-28-08; NCES, IPEDS 2006-07 Instructional Activity File; efia2007 Final Release Data File; NCES, IPEDS 2006-07 Unduplicated Headcount File; effy2007 Final Release Data File.; NCES, IPEDS Fall 2006 Enrollment File; ef2006a Final Release Data File.

  6. In Short… • We have a national degree crisis and a real degree “gap” • Greater in the South than in other regions • We must re-focus attention on greater access, preparation and success, but… • Even with greater success in graduating traditional college students (and that is more of a hope that a realistic outcome at the present time) we will not reach needed attainment levels

  7. Reaching Goals…A “New” Older Market • Given the percentage increases each state needs to contribute to reaching our national goals….and • Given the time it will take to reach these percentage increases with traditional-aged students…and • Given the changing demographics in many states…and • Given the changing nature and patterns of student participation…we need to target the • adult degree completion market

  8. First, if what we are doing was working, we wouldn’t have millions of young adults without degrees—our approaches need to be different. SREB’s “Guiding Principles” • Online or blended delivery • Accelerated (compressed) terms • Institutions become “adult friendly” • Supportive credit transfer/PLA

  9. What We Have Learned… • There are more than 35 million working age adults with some college credit but no credential…increasing by 1 million a year • Approaching 14millionin SREB states • Many will return if given new options • Strategies to effectively reach and serve these adult “degree completers” are emerging • The emerging market is competitive…made more so by the proprietary sector • Wanting to serve adults without changing your current business WILL NOT get you there • Emerging models in SREB states

  10. SREB State NumbersSome College-No Degree(2008) Mississippi - 362,397 North Carolina - 1,131,559 Oklahoma -474,747 South Carolina - 496,677 Tennessee - 765,533 Texas - 2,936,868 Virginia - 892,761 West Virginia - 195,502 SREB Region - 13,115,682 United States - 35,717,932 • Alabama - 553,968 • Arkansas - 345,137 • Delaware - 103,282 • Florida - 2,075,930 • Georgia - 1,111,807 • Kentucky - 503,070 • Louisiana -517,252 • Maryland - 649,192

  11. Returning Adults Seek… • More Flexible Programs that Meet Their Needs • Time, Location, Length, Delivery Formats • Pathways to Degrees that Give Some Hope of Completion • Services Designed to Meet the Needs of Adult Learners (re-designed or new) • More Adult-Friendly Policies • Credit Transfer/Acceptance • Prior Learning Assessment Opportunities • Financial Aid/Assistance for “non-traditional learners

  12. Successful Adult-Serving Institutions… • Acknowledge the importance of adults in their mission statements and strategic plans • Develop early warning systems to identify struggling adult students • Make courses easily accessible • Provide financial assistance • Assess their programs and disaggregate data for low income and underserved populations • Find and develop faculty who know how to teach adults

  13. Efforts Underway in SREB States • Established/operational programs • Kentucky—Project Graduate • Louisiana--CALL • Oklahoma—Reach Higher • West Virginia—RBA Today • In Development/recently launched • Tennessee • Texas • Under Discussion • Arkansas • Florida • South Carolina • Virginia • ‘Rumors’ of activities in several other states…

  14. Coming Soon…TheAdultLearner.org • Four-year grant from Lumina Foundation for Education (part of a $14m initiative) • Establish a regional and then national portal focusing on adult degree completion • Programs (initially focusing on SREB states efforts • Services • Advising • Career Services • Prior Learning Assessment • Policy (state and institutional)

  15. Thank You…sreb.orgelectroniccampus.orgsoon…TheAdultLearner.orgBruce Chalouxbruce.chaloux@sreb.org

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