Showcase Your Work Transitioning Adult Learners

Background

In 2019 the Lumina Foundation awarded Minnesota State a $350,000 grant under its “All Learning Counts” initiative to build transparent pathways to degrees and other credentials for adults, especially for adult learners of color and Native learners. The grant will allow Minnesota State to expand its program of awarding Credit for Prior Learning, which can reduce the cost of completing a degree and contribute to student success.

“Increasing the number of post-traditional adult learners served by our colleges and universities is one of our key strategies for increasing educational attainment in Minnesota and eliminating equity gaps,” said Devinder Malhotra, chancellor of Minnesota State. “This grant will help our colleges and universities address the pressing issues facing adult learners and learners from traditionally underserved populations and help us better meet the state’s need for workforce talent.”

(Source: Minnesota State – Minnesota State Receives Lumina “All Learning Counts” Grant [minnstate.edu])

Request

Part of the initiative includes developing a grassroots toolkit to help ABE, Community-Based Organizations, and college partners develop and strengthen their capacity to serve adult learners. We are gathering tools, tips, and best practices, especially with regards to ensuring successful transition into and completion of college-level, credit-bearing postsecondary education. This includes topics like:

• Identifying and bringing the right people to the table
• Curriculum and instructional alignment
• Assessment and placement into college-level, credit-bearing programs
• Credit for prior learning
• Navigation, wrap-around services, successful hand-offs

In addition to your ideas and insights, we are gathering practical tools from the field, such as:

• partnership agreements
• examples of syllabi
• crosswalks
• written guidance (for students or partners)
• student worksheets
• marketing materials
• model partnerships deserving spotlight

If anything comes to mind, please contact Nick Maryns at [email protected] and let him know you work in Adult Basic Education.