Minnesota State – Adult Education Corequisite Partnerships Continue to Make Steady Progress

The evolution of Minnesota State’s movement from stand-alone developmental education courses to a corequisite format across the system and on college campuses is starting to take shape.  This is the third year of a five-year plan to transform how the system and its partners serve college enrolled students who identify as needing academic interventions and related support strategies to prepare them for the academic rigors of college coursework.

An Affinity Group (AG) involving Minnesota State developmental education faculty and administrators as well as Adult Education instructors and administrators was formed several years ago to promote effective partnership practices of value to underprepared college students.  In 2025-26 the Affinity Group met in the fall, winter, and spring, averaging 30+ attendees per season. The presentations and ensuing discussions are typically spirited given the gravity of the challenging work to support students, especially those that are testing in the areas of math, reading, and writing at elementary or middle school academic level.

Corequisite coursework which provides college credit (versus Dev Ed coursework, which doesn’t) appears to be ideal for students with more minimal levels of academic unpreparedness. Much of the AG discussion has been focused on the work of various Minnesota State committees (technical college work group, wrap-around services work group and other steering committees) to address deeper levels of student academic achievement concerns.

A priority of the Minnesota State system has been the need to update course placement policy.  At the April AG meetings, the attendees were provided access to the recently adopted policy to review and discuss. In addition, time was spent discussing recommendations made by the technical college work group to address the unique needs of their students to be prepared for technical college programs of study. The recommendations include mention of seeking adult education partnerships to address preparation needs.

Stay tuned for an update regarding a grant proposal made to Education Minnesota to support professional development of educators from both systems who are tasked with the job of ensuring corequisite course delivery hits the mark with placed students. Award decisions will be made in May.

In addition, a corequisite partnership workshop will be offered at the Adult Education Summer Institute (virtual conference) on Thursday, August 13 from 10:30-11:30am. AG work and impact this academic year is currently being evaluated to determine if continuation of the AG next academic year is merited.

View this AG recording from April 10 to learn more about the placement policy and other updates.

Questions can be directed to one of the AG facilitators, Russell Fraenkel, [email protected], or Lesley Blicker.