The Plus 50 InitiativeAmerican Association of Community Colleges

Funded with a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies

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Innovative program reaching out to adult learners who are age 50 and up that is benchmarking standards of excellence among community colleges nationwide.

What is the Plus 50 Initiative?

Community colleges have a long-standing tradition of catering to the needs of non-traditional students and their communities.

Why Community Colleges

• Flexible scheduling

• Shorter term courses

• Within driving distance of 90% of the population

Community Colleges: Ideal for Plus 50 Students

Three focus areas:

• Plus 50 Learning

• Plus 50 Training & Re-Training

• Plus 50 Volunteering

Colleges' Plus 50 Program Focus Areas

Colleges' Plus 50 Program Focus Areas

30%

58%

86%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Service and

Volunteering

Training / Re-Training

Academic / Enrichment /

Personal Interest

Percent change in labor force by age, projected 2008-2018

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Why Focus on Learning for Working Adults?

Primary source of future employees is current workforce.

65% of 2020 Workforce have high school degree, but no postsecondary degree or certificate.

30% of the fastest-growing occupations require post-secondary educational or training credential.

Solutions:

• Prolonging the labor force participation of aging baby boomers.

• Increase educational opportunities for the current workforce.

Enrollment of Plus 50 Students in Workforce Training Courses(Changes from Baseline to Year Two)

4551,464

2,505

367

1,766

3,974

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

Baseline(2007-08)

Year One(2008-09)

Year Two(2009-10)

Nu

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of

plu

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0 S

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Number of Plus 50 Students Enrolled(All Colleges)

Credit courses (n=5) Non-credit ourses (n=11)

12%

8%

3%

4%

15%

7%

4%

5%

30%

28%

31%

27%

43%

57%

62%

64%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Land a job (n=217)

Work toward obtaining a license or

certificate (n=176)

Improve my job skills (n=272)

Acquire new job skills (n=259)

Percentage of Respondents

Plus 50 Workforce Training Programs Helped Me To...

Completely Disagree Mostly Disagree Mostly Agree Completely Agree

• Funded by Lumina Foundation • Training and retraining, career

development and support activities that enhance successful credential completion for adults over the age of 50.

• Request for Proposals due March 4, 2011.

Laying Out The Welcome Mat

Workforce training & career development programs help plus 50

adults prepare for new careers during a turbulent economy.

Colleges can improve support services that help integrate plus 50 students into the fabric of campus life.

The Plus 50 Adult:A Dramatically Different Type of Community College Student

Joliet Junior College (JJC) Plus 50 Workforce Center Mission

To promote the continued vitality of the mature workforce through the delivery of a comprehensive system of quality employment, education, and training services that support local and regional economic development initiatives.

JJC has seen an increased enrollment of 50+ students particularly in computer related coursesCustomized 50+ computer classesFull range of computer courses offeredToo Young For Facelift? Too Old For Facebook?

Learning is life-long and many people in our community want to attend classes or programs in order to begin a new career or obtain a degree.

Tuition waivers through grant fundingMentor and Volunteer programRetirement PlanningLifelong learning classes

Joliet Junior College’s Plus 50 Workforce Center helps the mature worker face the challenges ofobtaining employment after the age 50.

Free career workshops, career assessments and advisingSupport group sessionMock InterviewAnnual +50 friendly job fair

Community Colleges Offer Options and Possibilities

Short-term training for a new career can get an unemployed worker

back on the job and earning money in a matter of months, not years.

Plus 50 Website

http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu