Transcript Understanding the Particular Needs of the Plus 50 Learner American Association of Community Colleges Funded with a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Understanding the
Particular Needs of the
Plus 50 Learner
American Association
of Community Colleges
Funded with a grant
from The Atlantic Philanthropies
1
Attendee List
Presentation
Slide Area
Chat Room
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Submitting Questions
 To submit a question or comment,
type the question in the text field
and click the arrow button.
 Please enter the name of the person
to whom the question is directed.
Text Field
 Your name, the text “Submitted
Question,” and your question will
appear in red on your screen,
indicating successful submission.
 Questions are directly transmitted to
presenters—no other participants will
see your questions.
Arrow Button
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Practice: Attendance Poll
In the chat room,
please type your
name, the name of
your organization,
your location, and the
number of people
attending with you
today.
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Access to Webinar Materials
Today’s session will be recorded and made
available on the Plus 50 website:
http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/
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Presenter
Carol Dubay
Director of Advising and
Counseling Services
Cape Cod Community College
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Presenter
Sergio Marini, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of
Psychology
Cape Cod Community College
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Presenter
Susan Miller
Dean of Academic and
Student Affairs
Cape Cod Community College
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Learning Objectives
By the end of today’s webinar, you will be able to:
 Identify the unique needs of the Plus 50 learner.
 Determine methods and best
practices to effectively meet these
unique needs.
 Utilize effective advising
strategies and services.
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Learning Objectives, continued
By the end of today’s webinar, you will be able to:
 Recognize the need for collaboration across Community
College programs, offices and services.
 Discuss the value of integrating the Plus 50 learner into
your community college.
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12 Tips for Developing and Deploying
Your Plus 50 Program
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Involve your President and Senior Administrators.
Determine your audience.
Conduct a needs assessment.
Assess your resources.
Know your community.
Convene a planning or advisory board.
Form community partnerships.
Set program goals and objectives.
Secure Funding.
Develop an evaluation plan.
Create an infrastructure for your program.
Participate in training and networking opportunities.
Visit http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/colleges_practicaltips.html
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The Top 10 Things You Can Do to
Become Plus 50 Friendly
1. Conduct a needs assessment.
2. Tailor admission requirements and financial aid
programs to Plus 50 students.
3. Provide a point-of-contact faculty member for Plus 50
students.
4. Avoid using words like senior, old, and elder.
5. Prepare counselors to deal with Plus 50 student needs.
6. Offer short-term courses in condensed blocks of time.
7. Coach faculty and adapt classrooms.
8. Develop a targeted marketing plan.
9. Partner with organizations that serve Plus 50 students.
10. Cultivate support from the CEO and across academic
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divisions.
The Common Thread
An understanding of the unique needs of the
Plus 50 learner is critical to a successful
Plus 50 program!
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Projected Workforce Changes
Projected percentage change in labor
force by age, 2006-2016
Older than 75
84.3
65-74
Age
The workforce is
aging and
shrinking in sizefewer younger
workers are
available to
replace those
leaving the
workforce.
83.4
55-64
36.5
25-54
2.4
16-24-6.9
-20
0
20
40
60
Percent change
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
80
100
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Basic Principles of the Plus 50
Learner
 Tell learners why something is important
to learn.
 Show learners how to direct themselves
through information.
 Relate topics to the learners’ experience.
 People will not learn until they are ready
and motivated to learn.
 Help students overcome inhibitions,
behaviors, and beliefs about learning.
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Assessing the Needs of Plus 50
Learners
 Complete a needs assessment of your
Plus 50 population.
 Conduct focus groups.
Access the Plus 50 Needs Assessment Toolkit at
http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/publications.html
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Assessing the Needs of Plus 50
Learners, continued
 Provide one-on-one advising.
 Host monthly workshops for the
returning Plus 50 learner.
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What Have We Learned about Plus
50 Learners?
 Plus 50 learners are highly motivated; but
don’t have much free time.
 They may have a bachelors
degree; but want or need a
career change.
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What Have We Learned about Plus
50 Learners? continued
 They may need to get
acclimated to
technology.
 They may be
unfamiliar with, or
nervous about
returning to, a
campus environment.
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What Have We Learned about Plus
50 Learners? continued
 They place a lot of pressure on
themselves due to family dynamics.
 They may have financial barriers to
enrollment.
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What Have We Learned about Plus
50 Learners? continued
 Many Plus 50 learners are in transition.
 Emphasize how strengths and experience
can be applied in a
new setting.
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How are Community Colleges Meeting
the Needs of Plus 50 Learners?
In the chat room, please
share what your community
college is doing to meet the
needs of its Plus 50
students.
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Courses and Training: What Do
Plus 50 Learners Want?
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Meeting These Needs
Recognize volunteering as a mechanism
for obtaining experience.
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Meeting These Needs, continued
Consider your location.
 Improve public transportation to and from the
campus.
 Improve campus parking.
 Provide courses at community
centers.
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Meeting These Needs, continued
Offer support services:
 Orientation
 Customized advising
 Faculty and staff training
 Classrooms adapted to
adult learning needs and
styles
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Meeting These Needs, continued
Financial aid
 Provide direction and guidance around
seeking and applying for financial aid.
 Provide one-on-one financial
aid support.
 Engage funders who prioritize
adult learners
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Implementing Your Plus 50 Program
 The Plus 50 program must be reflected in the
mission, vision, and strategic plan of the
community college.
 Must begin with your President and become
fully integrated across the college in order to
be sustainable.
For more information, visit the article titled Plus-50 Success story.
One College’s Plan for Meeting the Needs of Older Students
at:
http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/docs/pr/AACC_Plus50_Success_Story.pdf
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Positive Outcomes of Integrating Plus 50
Learners into Your Campus
Plus 50 learners:
 Develop mentor/mentee
relationships.
 Bring valuable work and
life experience to the
classroom.
 Represent a valuable
market and source of
revenue.
 Involved in co-curriculum.
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Best Practices
 Conduct a needs assessment and focus groups to
determine the needs of your Plus 50 population.
 Strong advisory services are key!
 Recognize the 5 basic principles of the Plus 50
learner.
 Adapt your campus and classrooms to meet the
needs of the Plus 50 learner.
 Plus 50 learning must be reflected in your college’s
mission, vision, and strategic plan.
 Support must come from the top down!
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What Positive Outcomes has Your
Community College Experienced?
In the chat room, please
share the positive outcomes
that your community college
has experienced as a result
of implementing a Plus 50
program.
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Questions & Answers
Please enter any questions
you have about the content
covered in today’s session in
the chat room.
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Let Us Help You!
 Carol Dubay
Director of Advising and Counseling Services
Cape Cod Community College
[email protected]
 Sergio Marini, PH.D
Associate Professor of Psychology
Cape Cod Community College
[email protected]
 Susan Miller
Dean of Academic and Student Affairs
Cape Cod Community College
[email protected]
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For More Information
http://Plus50.aacc.nche.edu
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To View a Recording of this Webinar
Today’s session has been recorded and is
available on the Plus 50 website:
http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/
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Future Events
Creating and Sustaining Your Program
for Adult Learners
December 3, 2009
3:00pm EST
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Thank You!
Thank you for joining us today! We encourage you to visit
the following resources for additional information:
• The Plus 50 Website
• The Needs Assessment Toolkit
• The Plus 50 National Survey: Educating Plus 50
Learners: Opportunities for Community Colleges –
March 2009: State of Community College Plus 50
Programs Nationwide
• Cape Cod Community College Journal Article
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