Minnesota State-ABE Corequisite Affinity Group

(formerly the Dev Ed/ABE Affinity Group)

Developing and advancing effective College and ABE co-req classroom partnerships is the business of ABE and Minnesota State educators working together through periodic Affinity Group (AG) meetings. The Affinity Group’s composition by role includes ABE Educators, Faculty, College Deans and Administrators, anyone with co-req reporting responsibility, and ABE Regional Directors. Presently in its fifth year, these Affinity Group sessions bring together all these practitioners who wish to explore and promote effective partnership models for student success in the co-req environment. All voices are welcome to help shape local and statewide collaboration strategies.

Originally established to promote effective partnerships and resources related to developmental education, (hence originally called the Dev Ed/ABE Affinity Group), the focus of this group significantly shifted in 2024 when the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System initiated a statewide effort to replace existing Developmental Education non-credit courses with a corequisite course format that awards enrolled students with college credit and a faster time to complete their program of study. The full expression of the format change is to occur by academic year 2027-28.

Originally sponsored by the Northwest Transitions Region, over the years funding has come from both Minnesota State and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Presently, it is funded strictly by the ABE unit of MDE.

The group is voluntary to join. There are three 75-minute virtual meetings this academic year. There are two options to attend any one of the three meetings, with the same content being covered at both. You choose the meeting option that works best for your schedule.

Affinity Group meetings are facilitated by Lesley Blicker (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lblicker/) and Russ Fraenkel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-fraenkel-44456a15/)

For information on upcoming meetings, go to the Events calendar.