By Laura Gilbert, May guest blogger

For generations the U.S. has been a world leader in postsecondary education both in quality and in the percentage of our population with a two- or four-year college degree. Estimated to be about 40%, this number has remained steady for the past 40 years. Eager to compete in an in information-driven, global economy, other countries stepped up efforts to educate their population. To remain competitive the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems estimates the U.S. must produce 15.5 million more degrees than current trends are likely to produce between now and 2025 — or one million additional degrees annually for the next 15 years. If we succeed, the U.S. might match the percentage of graduates in Canada, Japan and South Korea. Failure could have significant economic and social consequences for our country. Estimates suggest traditional-aged students may complete 1.3 million additional degrees during that time period. That still leaves us 14.2 million degrees short.

The solution? Re-engage our adult learners. Three Minnesota efforts are leading the way to do just that.

Becoming college ready
In 2008, the Minnesota State College and University system and Minnesota Department of Education Adult Basic Education launched Minnesota FastTRAC: Training, Resources And Credentialing. FastTRAC is designed to develop pathways to sustainable employment for the 692,000 Minnesotans who hold a high school diploma/GED or less and who are of prime working age. FastTRAC is a systems-level education and training initiative with an emphasis on helping adults who lack the basic skills necessary to enter and complete postsecondary degree and certificate programs. Since its inception, FastTRAC has developed key partnerships to deliver its programs including the Office of Higher Education, Department of Human Services and the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Finish what you started
An estimated 17.2 million U.S. adults possess some college credits but hold no degree including 336,000 in Minnesota. In fact, the U.S. ranks near the bottom of industrialized countries in the percentage of entering students who complete a degree program. The Midwest Higher Education Compact is exploring the creation of a multi-state credential repository for education, skills and training — Midwest CREST. This program would provide a web-based platform to bank or store college credits earned from multiple institutions. Partner colleges could assess a student’s transcript and “bid” for the opportunity to facilitate his or her completion of a degree. By establishing portability of credits, individuals in our increasingly mobile society will have an opportunity to complete a quality degree no matter how often life requires them to move. Program recommendations will be complete in late 2010.

Engaged in the second half of life
The vision for work after age 50 is changing. Increased life-expectancy, loss of retirement funds and/or one’s job and even the baby boomer culture of “making a difference” or “giving back” all play a part in this shift. Today, four out of five people over 50 plan to work in retirement, whether for enrichment or necessity, often in positions for which they must acquire new skills. Consequently, baby boomers are returning to school in record numbers. To meet this need, in 2008 the American Association of Community Colleges launched a three-year “Plus 50 Learner” initiative across the country to benchmark and showcase innovative community college programs that target the 50 learner. Century College in Maplewood was one of five institutions selected nationally as a mentor college for the Plus 50 Initiative. Century’s PrimeTime/Plus 50 offers short-term courses in skills development, enrichment and service opportunities; all under the phrase, “Re-hired, re-wired and re-inspired.” In addition, Century has partnered with other Minnesota community colleges to offer a variety of programs of interest to the Plus 50 learner.

Adult learners are quickly becoming the new face of postsecondary education. Federal legislation, philanthropic grants and private ventures have joined higher educational institutions in the effort to increase adult access to educational opportunities and guidance to ensure success. Minnesota stands to be a leader in the process.

Laura Gilbert, Ph.D., Back to School for Grownups; serving the adult learner community through coaching, consulting and conversation.

By Laura Gilbert, May guest blogger

This month college students across the country will burn the proverbial midnight oil writing final papers, studying for exams, and bidding a summer goodbye to friends. Jack Slotnick is one such student. With good grades and family support he is on track to earn a psychology degree. Jack wants to work with returning veterans — for free. One more thing about Jack: Jack is 84.

Although Jack is the only “80-something” in his class, non-traditional students are becoming the norm. This is good news as it helps to ensure we have an educated workforce that can bend and flex with an ever-changing job market. In Hidden in Plain Sight, Peter J. Stokes states that fewer than 3 million of the 17 million students in higher education fit the traditional 18-22, full-time, living on campus model. Other studies suggest non-traditional students make up 42% to 85% of post-secondary enrollment (the low figure reflects state institution enrollment; the high figure includes all post-secondary institutions.) The face of today’s college student is changing.

Economic and societal shifts underlie this development. Gone are the days of the single lifetime career. Experts suggest seven to fourteen careers are today’s norm, often requiring training, certification or a degree. The past decade’s explosion of degree-completion, community college initiatives and MBA programs can barely meet current demand as laid-off and skittish adults turn to educational institutions to gain new skills, complete degrees and re-energize their spirits. Others returned after President Obama unveiled his $12 billion American Graduation Initiative and encouraged the unemployed and underemployed to return to school to prepare to fill forecasted job vacancies, 40% of which require some post-secondary education (5 million of which are predicted to go unfilled by 2018 due to a coming labor shortage.)

Even the image of retirement has changed as baby boomer retirees choose fitness and community learning centers over golf and bridge clubs. A recent AARP survey found that 16% of people age 50 and over intend to return to school (more than half headed to community colleges); that’s roughly 12.5 million people.

Regardless of one’s age or motivation, learning has moved from a one-time event to a lifetime reality. School is often a place of community, hope and growth where individuals who might otherwise never meet come together through common interest. As Craig Lien from Concordia University, St. Paul recently said to a group of business professionals, “higher education is no longer preparation for an adult life, but is a continual process throughout one’s lifetime”; that’s a belief fully embraced by our friend Jack.

In my next post we’ll look at a few local and national programs leading the way to help adults return to higher education. Visit Back to School for Grownups to see hot-off-the-press news items, hear inspiring stories, read tips for adult learner success and more.

LearnmoreMN is an initiative of the Minnesota Private College Council. Visit their site and post your comments to my blog post. Laura