Golden Bulls Adult Student Success Organization: Meeting the Needs of Adult Learners at Johnson C. Smith University

After participating in CAEL’s Adult Learner 360 assessment process in March 2023, Johnson C. Smith University, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and part of Lumina Foundation’s HBCU Adult Learning Initiative, learned that adult learners wanted a stronger connection to campus life outside of the classroom. Based on insight into student needs revealed in Adult Learner 360’s survey data, the university established the Golden Bulls Adult Student Success Organization (GBASO) in the fall of 2022.

 The official mission and vision of GBASO is “to provide a supportive environment for adult students both on and off campus through occasional planned events and gatherings.” The organization seeks to “identify, embrace, support, and advocate for adult students while providing a place to belong and connect with other students and the JCSU community at large. The vision is for GBASO members to serve as peer mentors to our new students and current students.” Members of the organization serve as “trusted guides and assist new students with areas of adjustment as they transition into university life as adult students.”

 Simply put, GBASO’s goal is to provide a supportive environment for adult learners on- and off-campus and facilitate connections among members and the community. Major initiatives GBASO hosts include the annual Homecoming Tailgate, end-of-semester “wine-downs,” beginning-of-term mixers, and a special event during Open House. These activities provide an opportunity for adult learners on campus to connect with the organization and to be engaged with major campus-sponsored events.

Aside from these campus-wide events, GBASO serves as an advocacy organization for adult learners. According to Damon Miller, student success manager and staff advisor to GBASO, this was not initially considered as part of the goals for the organization but has organically emerged. “GBASO's ability to amplify the concerns of our adult learners on campus to our administrators has proved extremely beneficial to the university as it works to develop more policies and practices to address adult student needs in the future.”

The organization's governance is entirely student-run, with Miller liaising between the administration and the GBASO. It follows a traditional leadership model with a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. However, various committee chairs are present within the leadership team. They focus on areas such as communications, events, and one of its newest committee roles – an alumni liaison.

Miller expressed great excitement about the alumni liaison role due to its ability to bridge enrolled and alumni adult learners. “The alumni liaison has been extremely helpful in matching current students with alumni for mentorship, career advice, and support for adults outside of the classroom.”

Ashley Kimble, a licensed professional coder and senior business administration major in the adult degree program at Johnson C. Smith University, is GBASO’s current president. “GBASO plays a crucial role in providing adult learners with a strong support system,” she told CAEL. “Balancing work, school, and personal life isn’t easy, and GBASO helps us manage it all by offering resources and a sense of community."

Although only in its second year of existence, GBASO has produced numerous student success stories. These stories range from academic accomplishments driven by GBASO-organized tutoring to meeting the tangible needs of adult learners who were food- or housing-insecure. Throughout its endeavors, GBASO has excelled in building a strong sense of community among its members and alumni.

Miller is most impressed at seeing how far the organization has come in its short time. “Looking back from the start to where they are now, it's so great to see how things have grown. We expected GBASO to support our students but didn’t expect it to do everything it has done. I’m very proud of how the adults have made this into a part of our community at Johnson C. Smith University!”

Reflecting on her own role and work as president, Kimble says that leading with empathy and flexibility makes a big difference. “We’re all juggling a lot, and it’s important that everyone feels supported. Clear communication and delegating tasks when necessary help keep the organization running smoothly."

For institutions seeking to develop an adult learner student organization on campus, Miller provides the following advice: “The first step is to appoint student leaders. Let the students lead, and you advise. There will be lots of ideas at first, but start slow. Next, plan to plug into events already established by the university. Lastly, to encourage initial participation, make a strong pitch for adults wanting to get involved and allow your organization to grow from there.”

GBASO serves as a strong example of the powerful impact that adult learner student organizations can have on campus. The organization has created a sense of belonging for adult learners at Johnson C. Smith and served as a pipeline from the adult learner voice to the administration. "GBASO has made a real impact by creating a space where adult learners can connect and share their journeys,” said Kimble. “It’s more than just academic support—it’s about building relationships and helping each other grow personally and professionally."

More institutions are encouraged to follow Johnson C. Smith’s lead in creating spaces for adult learners to belong and evolve into the successful learners and leaders they seek to be. For information on how your institution can benefit from Adult Learner 360 or another partnership with CAEL, contact cael@cael.org.

Damon Miller and Ashley Kimble at CAEL’S 50th anniversary conference.