Intersect With Earl August 2024

by Earl Buford on Aug 30, 2024

We recently concluded our second Latino and Adult Student Success Academy. As much as I’m proud of the fact that an independent assessment by project evaluator Ithaka S+R confirmed the impact of CAEL’s Academy model, I’m equally thankful for my colleagues who made the Academy possible. As Dr. Beth Doyle, SVP of initiatives and solutions, put it: “Being a multiyear project covering CPL, policy, process mapping, and more, the Academy involved support from every corner of CAEL. Rafael Pasillas was the heart and soul throughout the Academy, and Becky Klein-Collins was instrumental in collecting data so we could accurately measure impact. The expertise of Ashley Faubion, Darrah M. Mugrauer, Dr. Alicia Myrick, Allymyr Atrero, Wilson Finch, Kristen Himmerick, Katrina Douthit, Elizabeth Brandes, Carlo Bertolini, and all those on our team who supported the project directly and indirectly, were also critical to the Academy’s success.” You can find details of what that success entailed, such as increased enrollment and greater use of CPL, in our recently released report about the Academy.

In its Deep Dive feature, WorkingNation explores what postsecondary education and training providers can do to better serve adult learners, including partnering with employers to build extended career pathways. The article also offers insight on CPL and well-tailored advising and coaching for adult learners, quoting several experts, including our very own Dr. Beth Doyle.

In partnership with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, CAEL has completed the latest implementation of Bridging The Talent Gap, a powerful solution designed to tackle the skills gap between educational systems and the evolving needs of local businesses. You can read about the partnership in this case study at cael.org and in a recent article at The EvoLLLution by Bridgett Strickler.

In what it terms a “higher ed playbook,” UPCEA covers strategies for developing microcredentials in partnership with local employers. Findings highlight many opportunities for improvement, including more consistency and coordination in tracking microcredential portfolios and their impact.

Grant opportunity: The Teagle Foundation’s Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative aims to revitalize the role of the humanities in general education. It is inspired by a successful program model developed at Purdue University that has helped students in pre-professional majors strengthen critical thinking and communication skills, reversed the decline in credit hours at Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts, and raised morale and teaching opportunities for humanities faculty. This funding opportunity, which closes December 1, 2024 is available to regionally accredited private not-for-profit and public institutions of higher education, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, regional comprehensive institutions, and research universities. Implementation grants can be upwards of $300,000 over 24 months; planning grants are also available for up to $25,000 over 6-12 months and are strongly encouraged to lay the groundwork for successful curricular reform and faculty professional development.

CAEL member mention: Congratulations to Davenport University for taking full advantage of our member benefit Credit Predictor Standard, a free technology platform that helps current and prospective students learn about CPL opportunities. An article in Inside Higher Ed details the university’s experience with the tech tool.