United States: National Adult Education Conference Inspires Educators
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Paul Jurmo, right, talks with Mariann Fedele, Associate Director of the Literary Assistance Center of New York City.
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In the US, it is increasingly difficult
to earn a living wage without higher
education. Furthermore, as baby boomers
retire, the skilled work force is rapidly
diminishing, threatening economic and
social stability. For the past
decade, the New
England Literacy Resource Center (NELRC) at
World Education has been a leader in
helping low-income, low-literacy adults
in the region acquire the academic skills,
knowledge, and confidence they need to
transition from basic education programs
to college.
With
funding from Lumina Foundation for
Education and the Nellie Mae Education
Foundation, World Education launched
the National
College Transition Network (NCTN) in
2004 as a national resource for adult
educators, program staff, researchers,
funding agencies and policy makers
working to develop this new segment
of the educational continuum. In
November, NCTN hosted the first national
Conference on Effective Transitions
in Adult Education in Providence,
Rhode Island. Built on the NELRC’s
successful annual regional conferences,
the meeting served as a much-needed
opportunity for far-flung colleagues
in the emerging field of adult transition
into higher education to come together
to collaborate, exchange perspectives,
and form lasting bonds.
Workshop topics included promising practices
for career pathways, preparing adults
for college-level reading, writing, and
math, and building transition supports
for English language learners. The conference
also included a policy forum attended
by ten state directors of adult education
from around the country to help design
the NCTN's national policy agenda
on adult transition.
Adults who return to school are an unseen
sector of the traditional student body.
They don't live on campus, and
because they are also parents, workers
and partners, are often part-time, and
thus ineligible for many types of grants
and student loans. Multiple responsibilities
make retention a problem as well. George
Dooley, a counselor at North Orange County
Community College District, CA, appreciated
the opportunity that the conference provided
to problem solve with like-minded professionals. “The
best part about this conference is networking
and learning what people are doing and
what problems they're having. We're
all in the same boat."
Paul Jurmo, Dean of Economic Development
and Continuing Education at Union County
College in New Jersey, praised the NCTN
and Nellie Mae for their foresight in
and dedication to making adult access
to postsecondary education a national
priority in developing a skilled work
force. "The NCTN and this conference
are putting college transitions on the
agendas of adult educators, policy makers,
funders, and the adults and out-of-school
youth we serve. Adult education is increasingly
recognized as a resource to help workers
move into postsecondary education and
more rewarding jobs with career pathways
and benefits. Colleges and universities
should be looking to adult basic education
programs as a source for well-prepared
non-traditional students. Thanks to NCTN
and its funders for having the vision
to develop this important component of
our field."
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