Overview
In partnership with Excelencia in Education and Strada Education Network, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) offered the Latino Adult Student Success (LASS) Academy Grant to 15 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) or Emerging HSIs. Grantees of LASS participated in a three-year initiative to provide guidance and tools for Latino-enrolling institutions to better serve Latino adult students through policy and practice. ACC applied for and was awarded one of these grants and chose to focus on redesigning and expanding the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program.
The LASS grant helped ACC establish a more holistic approach to adult learners while considering the unique needs of adult Latino learners versus other adult learner groups. Expanding on previous student success efforts that focused on first-time-in-college students (FTIC), the LASS initiative at ACC focused on expanded opportunities for prior learning credential programs.
Accomplishments
This grant included the following work:
- Administration of a comprehensive survey (Adult Learning 360) and subsequent analysis to identify areas of need for the college. This survey provided the framework to serve adult learning.
- The opportunity for up to four participants from ACC to attend the yearly gatherings and provide training and key information about supporting adult learners and Latinx learners.
- “From the Ground Up” foundational training for task force members to help start a CPL program.
- “Portfolio Assessor Training” for 22 faculty representing our 10 areas of study
- Access to numerous CAEL resources that helped identify and develop data reports on the outcomes related to CPL.
Impact
- The number of students attempting CPL has increased by 311.5% from 2018 to 2022.
- The number of students earning CPL has increased by 60% from 2018 to 2022.
- The number of CPL conversions to credit has increased by 2,901% from 2018 to 2022. The outcome of these efforts is focused on improving time-to-completion.
- From academic year 2016-2017 to academic year 2019-2020, adult learners have shortened their time-to-completion by 5.4 months, Latino learners by 6.36 months and adult Latino learners by 1.2 months.
Through these grant opportunities and heightened awareness, we have added a section on CPL to the college catalog that links to existing content, and as a Hispanic Serving Institution, we have also started cross-departmental discussions about programs, services and resources for Latinx students.
Next Steps
Due to the successful participation in the CAEL AL360 (Adult Learner 360) grant, ACC was invited to participate in a second round of grants focused on Latino Adult Student Success (LASS 2.0). This grant will provide resources and support services to continue this work and more fully integrate opportunities for students to secure Credit for Prior Learning:
- Credit Predictor Pro tool: This tool is available to grant recipients at no cost for one year. We are currently working to pilot the online tool in phase 1 during summer 2023, and phase 2 in fall 2023.
- CPL policy review: CAEL will be conducting a review of all ACC rules, guidelines and information related to CPL and provide a summary report and reflection.
- CPL process mapping: CAEL will provide their expertise working with a team of ACC stakeholders to map the current process used by students in learning about CPL opportunities,
- Fundamentals of CPL presentation: CAEL will host an overview presentation on CPL for ACC stakeholders. We plan to schedule a meeting for department chairs and other instructional stakeholders to learn about the support and resources the college has available for faculty and students.
- Hire CPL coordinator: We are developing a CPL coordinator job description with the intent to hire a dedicated staff member to support this work. The PLA coordinator will work to create and maintain processes that assist students in building their portfolios to obtain PLA credit.
- Develop website and coordination of resources to support an increase in PLA credit awarded.
- Provide training for advisers and faculty: We will be offering training and information sessions in the fall 2023. Based on the grant focus, we will also be working with the Ascender and BRASS Programs to provide more detailed information and support.