Q&A With CAEL: Dallas Kratzer

Perspectives on 50 Years of Impact

As CAEL marks its semicentennial, a big part of the celebrations is around its 5,000-strong membership. It is the daily work of this thriving community of practice that has made so much of the past five decades possible. To highlight some of the diverse individuals who create our collective success, CAEL invited CAEL Ambassadors to answer questions about the past, present, and future of CAEL’s mission and its impact on education-employment pathways.

What is your name, title, and organization?

Dallas Kratzer, senior fellow, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

In its 50-year history, what would you say is CAEL's biggest accomplishment?

Keeping CPL on everyone's radar and moving the needle!  Without CAEL's work, I believe CPL in the U.S. would have languished and possible disappeared from the higher ed community.

During that history, what would you consider to be the biggest shift in higher education?

Recognizing adult learners are an underserved population, we are finally realizing the value and importance of this group and how they can have the greatest impact on the future of higher ed.

What would you consider to be the biggest shift in workforce development?

Connecting workforce to education; they have always co-existed, but were not linked as they are today.

As CAEL begins its next half century, where do you see the greatest opportunity?

Adult learners and how CAEL can help workforce agencies to expand the connection between work-learning and higher education.

What else would you like to share about your experience with CAEL? Do you have a favorite memory or highlight from your member experience?

CAEL has provided the opportunity for me to make great connections with people interested in the same things I'm interested in.  For example, I met James Martin, from Novia Scotia, at the conference last year and have established a great relationship to expand the recognition of military workplace learning and credit acceptance internationally.

Dr. Kratzer is a senior fellow in academic excellence and student success with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. His focus is on expanding CPL concepts throughout academia and business in Kentucky. As a CAEL training consultant, Dr. Kratzer facilitates workshops ranging from introduction to prior learning assessment to full CPL program implementation. Furthermore, he is a CAEL Ambassador, focusing on veteran engagement activities in academia and workforce.

An U.S. Air Force Veteran, Dr. Kratzer served in numerous senior advisor positions during his 35-year service period, including leadership, management, and teaching roles. He is also a faculty assessor with the American Council on Education, assessing military workplace learning and official training courses for the awarding of college-level credit. His work has directly impacted the college opportunities for service members in every branch as documented on their Joint Service Transcripts. Additionally, he advises colleges and universities on how they can implement a military credit for prior learning program designed to best use JST credit recommendations in their undergraduate degree programs. He also serves as a Senior Associate with the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs, where he advised the senior staff on educational and workforce initiatives related to the military community in Kentucky. He represents the Commission on the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board and serves as the co-chair for the Veterans and Transitioning Servicemembers subcommittee.