ABED16th Congress

Pre-Conference Mini Course

Serving the Adult Transfer Student

OverviewAdult Degree CompletionExcelsior CollegeAggregationAssessmentAdvisingChallenges

Adult Degree CompletionNational priorityBarriersNeed for new thinkingAlternative methods

Obama Challange

Lead the world in % of adults with

Bachelors degree by 2025

(increase from current 40% to 60%)

Impact of FailureInadequate workforceMovement of jobsDeclining economyReduced standard of living

BarriersTimeCostOpportunityLack of infrastructureFailure to see need

New ThinkingExtended educationNight/weekend programs Correspondence coursesUse of technology

AlternativesOnline learningNew degree formatsAssessment of prior learningMass customization

Excelsior CollegeInfluence of OU“Sister” of three othersSelf-supporting

History Founded = 1971 by State of New York Focus = Adult Learners Philosophy = “What you know is more important

than where or how learned” Mission = Provide opportunity to those

historically underserved by traditional higher education

Profile Private, non-profit 30,00 students +/- Largest nursing program in U.S. Largest nuclear engineering in U.S. 30% minority 25-30% active military Offer Associate, Bachelors, and Masters

degrees

Exercise #1

“The Needs of Brazil?”

MethodsAggregationAssessment AdvisingInstruction

AggregationCombining multiple forms of learning

Prior instruction Military/corporate training Exam results Professional experience (portfolio)

AssessmentApplicability of prior experience to

specific degree requirementsPrior learning via examinationsCapstone

AdvisingMatch degree to student needs and

to background (from assessment)Determine areas of further studyProvide knowledge of how to

complete Guide through completion process

The ProcessTranscripts

Exams Aggregate Military/CorpTraining

Consolidated Transcript

CHOOSE DEGREE PATHA B C

Compare to Degree Requirements

AssessmentDegree

RequirementConsolidated

Transcript

Path to Completion

Credit By Exam External Institution Internal Course Work

Capstone

Graduation

ADVISING

Exercise #2

Value of Excelsior Model in Brazil?

ChallengesAcceptance by traditional higher

educationAwareness by prospective studentPerceived complexityToo few “laboratories”

Questions