CAEL received funding in 2021 from William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Strada Education Network, and the Charles Koch Foundation in support of new research on the needs of adult learners. Core project activities included:
On-Demand Webinar on the New ALLIES Framework
Our research work also included a companion project with a deep-dive review of the results of a national survey of more than 2,000 'never-enrolled' adult learners and individual interviews. The objectives of this study were to:
KEY FINDINGS
The primary research revealed several important themes and insights about the needs of today's adult learners for successful postsecondary experiences:
A NEW FRAMEWORK - ROOTED IN CAEL'S LEGACY TEN PRINCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVELY SERVING ADULTS
In recognition of an evolving postsecondary environment, and from the outcomes of this work, a new framework emerged. CAEL developed the 'Adult Learner Leaders for Institutional Effectiveness', or ALLIES Framework, to provide guidance on best practices that effectively meet adult learners' needs within today's learning and labor market environment. Included are a series of planning and operational domains for institutions to more effectively support adult learners. The ALLIES Framework represents an evolution from the original publication of CAEL's Ten Principles for Effectively Serving Adults. Going forward, the ALLIES framework will guide CAEL's work with institutions in the future, and the Framework will inform new tools and resources for our members and partners.
For assistance in ensuring your institution is positioned to effectively support adult learners, reach out to our team today.
CAEL's president Earl Buford discusses the new ALLIES Framework in this exclusive video:
Download Research
Click on the links below to review an executive summary, or the full report and appendices, including a closer look at the high-performing programs at the study's participating institutions. You can also download CAEL's report that focuses on the research on adults who recently considered postsecondary education, but ultimately chose not to attend.
Executive Summary "Never-Enrolled" Companion Research Report
Building Adult Learner Leaders for Institutional Effectiveness (ALLIES) - Full Report
It's a little stressful when I think of it "Never-Enrolled" Companion Research Report