The Plus 50 Initiative: The Plus 50 Initiative: What’s in it for You?What’s in it for You?

American Association of Community Colleges

Funded with a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies

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Practice: AttendancePractice: Attendance

In the chat room, please type your name, the name of your organization, your location, and the number of people attending with you today.

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Access to Webinar MaterialsAccess to Webinar MaterialsToday’s session will be recorded and made available on the Plus 50 website:

http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/

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PresentersPresenters

Mary Sue VickersDirector, Plus 50 Initiative American Association of Community Colleges

Norma KentVice President of Communications

American Association of Community Colleges

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Welcome!Welcome!

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Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

By the end of today’s webinar, you will be able to: Discuss the Plus 50 Initiative and its benefits to

community colleges, plus 50 learners, the workforce, and the community at large.

Distinguish the Plus 50 Initiative from existing senior programs.

Describe the Plus 50 capacity-building webinar schedule and the benefits of participating.

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What is the Plus 50 Initiative?What is the Plus 50 Initiative?

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What is the Demand?What is the Demand?

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78 million Baby Boomers are nearing retirement age

4 out of 5 plan to work either full-time or part-time in their retirement

Plus 50 LearningPlus 50 Learning

Focused around three core areas: Workforce Training &Career Development

Personal Enrichment

Volunteering

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The Role of Community CollegesThe Role of Community Colleges

Structured to help baby boomers chart their next steps during the “third phase” of life.

Experienced in meeting the needs of non-traditional students.

Provide flexible, short-term programs, aconnection to work andvolunteer opportunities.

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Participating Community CollegesParticipating Community Colleges

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Expansion ProgramExpansion Program

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Who Sponsors the Plus 50 Initiative?Who Sponsors the Plus 50 Initiative?

The American Association of Community Colleges

The Atlantic Philanthropies www.atlanticphilanthropies.org

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Poll: Which of the following best Poll: Which of the following best describes your level of engagement describes your level of engagement with the Plus 50 Initiative?with the Plus 50 Initiative?

A. I barely know how to spell Plus 50.B. I’m somewhat engaged.C. I am well immersed. D. I’ve mastered the Plus 50 Initiative. What do

you need to know?

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What is Your Community College What is Your Community College Doing?Doing?

In the chat room, please enter a brief description of your institution’s current involvement with plus 50 learners.

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The Plus 50 Initiative National The Plus 50 Initiative National SurveySurvey

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Our MethodologyOur Methodology

Pilot tested with 13 participants from 12 community colleges.– Participants included individuals from Academic

Affairs, Continuing Education, the Office of the President, and existing adult programs.

Online survey was sent tothe President 1,081 additionalcommunity colleges.

Additional outreach performedby AACC.

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What Have We Learned?What Have We Learned?

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For More Information...For More Information...

A complete report of the National Survey can be downloaded from the Plus 50 website at:

http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/publications.html.21

Implementing Plus 50 Implementing Plus 50 ProgrammingProgramming

Internal Challenges External Challenges

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Promising PracticesPromising Practices

Lower Barriers for Plus 50 Students Fund & Support Plus 50 Programs

Tailor Offerings to Needs & Interests Plan & Conduct Needs Assessments23

Planning and Conducting Needs Planning and Conducting Needs AssessmentsAssessments

Know your customer!

Put a formal plan in place.

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Factors Drawing Plus 50 Students Factors Drawing Plus 50 Students to Community Collegesto Community Colleges Tailored programs

meet the needs of Plus 50 students.

Credit for workplace experience.

Condensed, flexible,and convenient course offerings.

Location, location, location!

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Becoming a Plus 50-Friendly School: Becoming a Plus 50-Friendly School: The Top 10 Things You Can Do The Top 10 Things You Can Do

1. Conduct a needs assessment of the local plus 50 population.

2. Tailor admission requirements and financial aid programs to plus 50 adults.

3. Provide a dedicated, point-of-contact faculty member for plus 50 students.

4. Avoid words like senior, old, and elder.5. Prepare counselors to deal with plus 50

student needs. 26

Becoming a Plus 50-Friendly School: Becoming a Plus 50-Friendly School: The Top 10 Things You Can Do, The Top 10 Things You Can Do, cont.cont.

6. Offer short-term courses in condensed blocks of time.

7. Coach faculty about teaching plus 50 learners; adapt classrooms to adult learning styles.

8. Develop a targeted marketing plan, including specialized publications and websites.

9. Partner with organizations that serve and reach out to plus 50 adults.

10. Cultivate support from the CEO and across academic divisions.

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Plus 50 Benefits to Your Plus 50 Benefits to Your Community CollegeCommunity College

Campus Diversity & Mentoring Programs

Financial & Volunteer Sources

Companies Value Plus 50

Training

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Future EventsFuture Events

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• Tools to Assess the Needs of Your Plus 50 Population (10/08/2009; 3:00 pm)

• The Importance of Stakeholders (10/22/2009; 3:00 pm)

• If You Build It: Promoting Your Program for Adult Learners (11/05/2009; 3:00 pm)

• Understanding the Particular Needs of the Adult Learner (11/19/2009; 3:00 pm)

• Creating and Sustaining Your Program for Adult Learners (12/03/2009; 3:00 pm)

Question & AnswerQuestion & Answer

Please enter any questions you have about the content covered in today’s session in the chat room.

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http://Plus50.aacc.nche.edu

For More InformationFor More Information

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To View a Recording To View a Recording of this Webinarof this Webinar

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Today’s session has been recorded and is available on the Plus 50 website:

http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/

Thank You!Thank You!

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