Adults looking to gain a foothold in the changing economy are seeking a college degree in greater numbers. Yet, their "non-traditional" characteristics--part-time enrollment, full-time employment, financial independence, and/or parental responsibilities--create needs and priorities that differ from those of traditional students and make it…

Since 1998, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has been instrumental in developing an industry-led approach to online education. In the telecommunications industry, The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL) began offering customized coursework through its primary educational partner, Pace…

With a fifty-year history of commitment to serving adults, Widener University's University College recently volunteered to participate in CAEL's (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) Adult Learning Focused Initiative (ALFI) by using the Institutional Self-Assessment Survey (ISAS) and the Adult Learner Inventory (ALI) from the ALFI…

The Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy (CAEL) designed the Adult Learning Focused Institution (ALFI) Assessment Toolkit specifically for colleges and universities that want to retain undergraduate adult learners by providing programs that meet and exceed their expectations. The ALFI Assessment Tools are a pair of survey instruments that are…

A postsecondary degree or credential is increasingly important in the U.S. economy, both for new entrants into the labor force and those already employed. Working adults who want to succeed in this economic climate are pursuing a college education in increasing numbers. Adult students have unique needs that differ from traditional-age, residential…

There is a strong and growing argument for higher educational attainment in the United States. The jobs that are expected to support the economy in the coming years will depend on a skilled workforce that is able to learn and adapt quickly to new challenges. However, demographic patterns demonstrate that relying on the traditional K-16 pipeline to…