Intersect With Earl November 2025

by Earl Buford on Nov 24, 2025

CAEL was founded on a simple but radical idea: learning neither begins nor ends at classroom doors. Learning and doing, practice and theory, education and employment: these can’t be seen as separate systems. They must come together to form one ecosystem that empowers adult learners to adapt and thrive in a lifelong landscape of evolving opportunity.Fifty-one years later, CAEL’s capacity to serve as a trusted intermediary that can foster such complementary collaboration is more important than ever. Our time as a Strada affiliate, which began in 2018, included a period of significant growth, during which CAEL tripled its membership and doubled its revenue and impact. We are incredibly grateful for Strada's support, which provided crucial funding and resources, enabling us to streamline operations and strengthen our holistic approach to education, training, and workforce development.

With these improvements firmly in place, effective in January, CAEL will resume operating as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This milestone marks both a new beginning and a return to the roots that have guided our five decades of adult learner advocacy. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting next chapter. In the meantime, our existing partnerships continue even as we finalize new ones, including support from Strada and other supporters, new and old, who will strengthen our independent national nonprofit mission. Thank you for being a part of it.

Building momentum in Memphis: We just wrapped up our 51st annual conference, where more than 180 sessions featuring more than 200 speakers covered topics that included the impact of AI in workforce transformation; integrating apprenticeships into degree programs and other ways to bridge experiential and academic learning; credit for prior learning; policy and advocacy; and many other topics of vital importance as political changes the higher education and workforce landscapes. Thanks to all who attended, virtually or in person, and to our conference sponsors, especially the University of Memphis. As a reminder, if you registered, you can view replays for the next three months here.

Lending voices to ‘CitiesSpeak’: Rachel Hirsch and Darrah Mugrauer recently contributed articles to the National League of Cities. Mugrauer cited CAEL’s ALLIES Framework for Adult Learner Success in a piece that looks at how cities can support adult learners through investing in child care, while Hirsch’s article explores several broad strategies cities can employ to support upskilling and reskilling.

CPL in transfer: In 2023, a CAEL working group formed to take on the intersecting issues of credit for prior learning and transfer students—both growing trends. The group’s members include experts from public and private two- and four-year postsecondary institutions. In a new white paper, the group urges adopting a “golden rule” for tackling the complex and often technical issues of CPL mobility. The white paper also includes case studies detailing real-world approaches to the challenges and opportunities of CPL in transfer.

Member mention: Providing a great example of bridging education and workforce, Tidewater Community College’s Skilled Trades Academy has expanded to become the foundation of the college’s workforce development strategies, which includes flexible class times, mobile training units, and rewarding partnerships with industry and local government.

Grant opportunity: The Department of Education is accepting applications for new awards for fiscal year 2025 for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education Special Projects, Assistance Listing Number 84.116J. Focus areas include capacity-building for high-quality short-term programs. The application deadline is December 3, 2025. If you’re curious about how CAEL might partner on your application, please contact MelissaKaye Sheokski.