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