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by CAEL on Apr 16, 2024
CAEL Turns 50
In the second week of March 1974, CAEL held its first meeting. Known then as the Cooperative Assessment of Experiential Learning, CAEL was housed at Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey. This inaugural incarnation, comprised of 10 members, was funded for 16 months. Today, 50 years and more than 150 additional grant partners later, CAEL’s nonprofit membership organization boasts a network that spans all 50 states plus Puerto Rico, Canada, Jamaica, Singapore, and Ireland. CAEL plans several commemorations this year to mark its 50th anniversary, culminating in its 50th annual conference, which will be held in New Orleans Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Registrations can be completed at cael.org.
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CAEL Hosting Back-to-back Summits in Atlanta
We hope to see you at the 2024 Thriving Communities and Economic Mobility Regional Summit April 26 in Atlanta. The event will focus on partnership development that aligns systems and key actors in the workforce, education, and employment ecosystems, bridging the gap between adult learners and the meaningful careers that drive social and economic mobility. For added convenience, we’re hosting the summit immediately following another special event, our free SNAP Employment & Training National Partnership Summit. The SNAP E&T Summit will be held in the same location, the AMA Atlanta Executive Conference Center, on April 25.
Six Months out, the 2024 Conference Is Already Breaking Records
A golden jubilee isn’t the only thing setting the 2024 conference apart from its predecessors. CAEL has received the most conference proposals ever for the 50th annual event. With registration open as of April 15 (the earliest date ever for a CAEL conference), participants have an unparalleled array of pre-conference events to choose from. In addition, in honor of the 50th anniversary, early registrants can save $50 off a bundled pre-conference workshop and conference option. Use the discount code 50forFifty when registering to receive this limited discount. Register at cael.org.
Nominations Now Accepted for 2024 CAEL Awards
CAEL is accepting nominations for the 2024 CAEL Awards, which, with last year’s debut of the Community Impact Award, now number five. The awards are presented at CAEL’s annual conference. Award parameters and nomination instructions are at cael.org.
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CAEL Plays Key Role in First-ever Statewide Policy Guidance for CPL
Indiana has launched its first-ever statewide policy guidance for credit for prior learning. Developed in partnership with CAEL, the policy guidance sets forth a CPL value statement and supports consistency in critical facets of CPL, including program and service design, transcriptions and transferability, standards for assessing CPL, and community, workforce, and employer partnerships.
It’s Not Academic: New CAEL Research Brief Highlights Real Reasons Adult Learners Unenroll
CAEL's latest research brief, Stopping Out: It’s Not About Academics, discusses the reasons adult learners give for stopping out of learning and what this suggests for needed institutional supports as well as the ways in which adult learner success is measured and tracked.
Two New Workgroups Join CAEL’s Communities of Practice
CAEL’s newest communities of practice are focused on military-connected learners and credit mobility. Replicating the approach of CAEL’s workgroup on CPL as transfer credit, they focus diverse sources of expertise around common challenges and opportunities. Both groups will amplify potential best practices, tools, and models that members can adopt and use to solve challenges. CAEL communities of practice meet regularly to share presentations, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects. Reach out to membershipservices@cael.org for more information.
‘Virtual mentors’ Help Bring CAEL Career Pathways Maps to Life in South Central Pennsylvania’s IT Sector
Collaboration between SCPa Works (South Central Workforce Development Board) and CAEL is supporting the South Central Pennsylvania NextGen Information Technology Industry Partnership (TechConnect). TechConnect represents regional IT interests and aligns their diverse but complementary missions to better address workforce challenges and opportunities. CAEL created customized career pathway maps for the top-five technology occupations in SCPa Works’ eight-county region. A unique feature of the pathways is a short-video lineup of workers employed within key pathway professions; these videos make the content more relatable, further encouraging job seekers.
Overview of CAEL’s Policy and Impact Priorities Published
Since CAEL’s founding, CAEL has championed public policies critical to the success of adult learners and workers. The systemic challenges and opportunities affecting education and employment outcomes have only grown more complex since then. Ensuring that policy evolves accordingly is critical to realizing CAEL’s vision, advancing its mission, and maximizing its impact as outlined in its recently published theory of change. To highlight the convergence of CAEL’s policy and impact priorities, CAEL has released an updated policy priority overview.
Professional Development Courses Starting This Month
Limited space remains for the following courses. Member discounts apply:
The Workforce Ecosystem: Building Partnerships for Community Growth
This four-week asynchronous online course explores how employers, postsecondary education, community-based organizations, and workforce development entities can (and must) collaborate to provide high-quality job training to connect adult learners to family-sustaining careers. Ecosystem-wide partnerships are even more critical as the country experiences a significant increase in short-term occupational skills training programs tied to in-demand employment, particularly for historically underrepresented communities. Successful completion of this course will count as eight hours of professional development in competencies 4,5 when applying for NAWDP's CWDP recertification.
From The Ground Up: Building the Foundations of a CPL Program
This four-week asynchronous online course explores the different opportunities students have to demonstrate their knowledge and learning as well as the impact PLA/CPL has on organizational practices and student success. Participants will learn how to build an action plan for executing a prior learning assessment program on their own campuses.
Successful completion of this course will count as eight hours of professional development in competencies 1,2,3 when applying for NAWDP's CWDP recertification.
Click Here for more information on upcoming *Professional Development Courses. The next session begins on April 22, 2024.
*An additional 15% discount is available for groups of five or more individuals attending from the same school, registering at the same time.
CAEL Enhances Adult Learner 360™
CAEL has made significant upgrades to its parallel survey diagnostic tool Adult Learner 360, which improves enrollment, retention, and completion among adult learners and workers. Now aligned with CAEL’s new research-based Adult Learner Leaders for Institutional Effectiveness (ALLIES) framework, Adult Learner 360 considers a change management approach that empowers institutions to address challenges and capture opportunities uncovered via the diagnostic survey process. Recent case studies involving the successful deployment of Adult Learner 360 are now available online.
2024 CAEL Ambassadors Named
Twenty-two thought leaders from throughout the continuum of adult learning comprise the 2024 CAEL Ambassador cohort. The Ambassador program is a volunteer leadership opportunity for highly engaged CAEL members willing to contribute their time, expertise, and passion to deepen CAEL’s impact.
Congratulations to Dr. Dorothy Langley
In celebration of Black History Month, CAEL was honored to recognize Jarvis Christian University, a CAEL organizational member and Historically Black University. Jarvis Christian University’s Dr. Dorothy Langley, who was CAEL Member of the Month for February, exemplifies our commitment to lifelong learning and the empowerment of adult learners. Dr. Langley is the dean of adult and continuing education and also serves as project lead for workforce initiatives at Jarvis. She is also a CAEL Ambassador, helping shape CAEL’s strategic impact by contributing her experience, expertise, and leadership.
CAEL Named Partner To Develop Career Pathways for Six-state Multi-year Great Lakes ReNEW Initiative
Great Lakes ReNEW focuses on innovative resource recovery, a priority that demands a skilled water-tech talent pipeline. CAEL, along with several other partners, is part of the six-state, grant funded collaboration. As a career pathways development partner to Great Lakes ReNEW, CAEL will foster continual alignment among workforce development organizations, educators, and trainers. It will also engage local and regional employers to support their efforts to hire, retain, and advance workers, especially those most affected by joblessness and systemic barriers.
Mark Your Calendars for CAEL Member Appreciation Month
After 2023’s inaugural member appreciation event, it was clear that one week wasn’t nearly enough time to celebrate all that CAEL members do. So we’re making it an entire month this year. June will feature four weeks of networking, member-exclusive promotions and events, a new member benefit launch, and more. If you’re not yet a member of CAEL, join today and celebrate with us!
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Coming Soon: Upgraded Platform Dedicated to CAEL Members
CAEL members will soon have access to a new platform that allows for easier access to the suite of member-only benefits and improved community collaboration.
AACRAO, CAEL Conduct Joint Survey on CPL Methods
CAEL and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers recently completed a survey of CAEL members to learn more about how CPL is offered across institutions. Results will be released soon and discussed in an upcoming Coffee With CAEL event.
Second LASS Academy Cohort Convenes
In March, CAEL held the capstone convening of the second Latino Adult Student Success Academy, in Austin, Texas. During the two-day event, CAEL and partner experts led activities and discussions to highlight Academy accomplishments, foster networking, and position participants to maximize the impact and momentum generated by the individual and collective work of the Academy. The second LASS Academy cohort includes Austin Community College, South Texas College, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. All are Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).
