New Coalition Created to Advocate for Adult Learners

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Online Learning Consortium (OLC), Presidents' Forum and University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) have joined forces to create the National Adult Learner Coalition, an organization devoted to advancing the adult learner agenda and expanding post-secondary education and credentialing opportunities. Supported by the Lumina Foundation, the coalition will serve as a "cohesive voice advocating for adult students and the institutions that serve them," according to a press release.

Stated goals of the coalition include:

  • Modernizing federal education and workforce policy to reflect the reality that the adult learner is the new normal;
  • Educating stakeholders on the value and needs of adult learners and innovative ways to serve them;
  • Mobilizing colleges and universities, employers, government and other key constituencies to advance the adult learner; and
  • Increasing awareness and support for innovations that benefit underserved adults, such as competency-based education, prior learning assessment and alternative credentialing.

"Once a small minority, adult and non-traditional learners now constitute up to 85 percent of today's students," said Robert Hansen, CEO of UPCEA, in a statement. "Our coalition is dedicated to help realign federal policy with this new higher education landscape, advocating for the expansion of access, innovation, and creative solutions."

"The undeniable shift in education demographics to a student community largely comprised of adult learners demands policies and programs that shift with them," said Kathleen S. Ives, CEO and executive director of the OLC. "Our coalition has the potential to advocate on behalf of the new majority student in ways more powerful than any of our organizations could advocate individually."

More information is available on the UPCEA site as well as in a National Adult Learner Coalition white paper, "Strengthening America's Economy By Expanding Educational Opportunities for Working Adults," which outlines the issues, challenges and opportunities faced by today's adult learners.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • illustration of a futuristic building labeled "AI & Innovation," featuring circuit board patterns and an AI brain motif, surrounded by geometric trees and a simplified sky

    Cal Poly Pomona Launches AI and Innovation Center

    In an effort to advance AI innovation, foster community engagement, and prepare students for careers in STEM fields and business, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona has teamed up with AI, cloud, and advisory services provider Avanade to launch a new Avanade AI & Innovation Center.

  •  black graduation cap with a glowing blue AI brain circuit symbol on top

    Report: AI Is a Must for Modern Learners

    A new report from VitalSource identifies a growing demand among learners for AI tools, declaring that "AI isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must."

  • glowing shield hovers above a digital cloud platform with abstract data streams and cloud icons in the background

    Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz

    Google has announced it will acquire cloud security startup Wiz. If completed, the acquisition — an all-cash deal valued at $32 billion — would mark the largest in Google's history.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Introduces Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has launched a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.