Implementing Adult Promise Programs to Re-engage the
“Some College/No Degree Student”
Andy Carlson, SHEEO
Rachelle Sharpe, Washington State
Debbie Blanke, Oklahoma
August 9, 2018
With generous support from Lumina Foundation


About the project

• Phase I – January through October 2016

– Produced design template document for states looking to implement Adult
Promise programs
– Site visits to five states
– Produced a customized program implementation plan for each state

• Phase II - 2017 through 2019

– Implementing programs in five states
•
•
•
•
•

Indiana
Maine
Minnesota
Oklahoma

Washington

www.sheeo.org/adultpromise


The pilot states
WA

ME

MN

OK

IN


Developing an Adult Reengagement
Framework in Washington State

Rachelle Sharpe, PhD
Deputy Executive Director


100%

70%

High school diploma
Postsecondary

or equivalent
credential
Washington population ages 25-44
90%
52
%

Source: 2017 Roadmap Progress Report Handout

Washington Student Achievement Council

5


The Need for an Educated Workforce

▪ Employers need a highly
skilled workforce to
remain competitive.

Source: Roadmap Dashboard & WSAC analysis of 2011-2015 American Community Survey, U.S. Census

Washington Student Achievement Council

6


Bold Strategies are Needed

▪ Employers need a highly

skilled workforce to
remain competitive.
▪ Our residents are not
earning the needed
credentials – and there
are gaps at every
educational level

12.2%
Graduate
or
Professional
23.4%
Bachelors
Degree

27.1%
High School…

6.8% < 1
Year
Postseconda
ry
17.2% > 1
13.3%
Year
Associate
Postseconda
Source: 2017 WSAC, SBCTC, WFB Skilled and Educated Workforce Report. WSAC Analysis of openings in 2017 Washington State Employment Security
Department, Long-Term Employment

Forecast and Educational Levels based on 2011-15 Americanry
Community Survey.
Degree

Washington Student Achievement Council

7


Bold Strategies are Needed

▪ Employers need a highly
skilled workforce to
remain competitive.
▪ Our residents are not
earning the needed
credentials – and there
are gaps at every
educational level
▪ Employers find talent
elsewhere and our
residents are not
competitive for livingwage jobs
Washington Student Achievement Council

Roadmap Dashboard: www.wsac.wa.gov/roadmap/overview

Postsecondary Enrollment and Awards

379,…


369,405
Enrollments

103,370

108,306
Awards

Fall 2011

Fall 2015

Source: WSAC Roadmap Dashboard & IPEDS Fall Enrollment data from the U.S. Department
of Education, IPEDS Completions, survey A data from the U.S. Department of Education

8


Many adults began a program without completing it

1.2 million not
enrolled without a
credential
400,000 have
some college
300,000
one year
of credit
Source: WSAC analysis of American Community Survey, 2009-2013 5-Year Estimates.


9


Many partners involved in the initiative

Washington Student Achievement Council

10


Adult Reengagement Vision

Support adults to
return and complete
their education
so they can compete to
meet the needs of
Washington employers.
11


Adult Reengagement Goals

Provide information
and support to
recruit, retain, and
graduate adults who
have not completed a
credential.

Target Washington
residents who have
earned college credit
without completing a
credential.
12


Adult Reengagement Principles
Engage all sectors of institutions, employers, policy makers.
Integrate campus-based initiatives, data systems, on-line resources,
and strong partnerships.
Use an equity lens to develop student identification, outreach,
services, etc.
Make it scalable, sustainable, and cost effective.
Highlight local and regional efforts for returning adults.
Consider institutions’ business and enrollment management practices.
Evaluate and address barriers for adult learners.

13


Critical framework components
Communica
tion

Adult
Reengagemen
t


Cost

Completi
on

• Student
identification
• Outreach
• Program & career
match (portal)

• Microgrant
• Financial aid
• Child care
• Enrollment
navigator
• Employer &
regional partners
• Student support

14


Initial target population

Former financial
aid recipient

20 or older


Washington Student Achievement Council

Attended 25%

No credential

No
financial
aid issues

15


Interactive Web-Based Tool
Content for prospective students relevant to the
individual and unique needs of returning adults.
Prospective students with relevant and accurate
information
• Academic programs based on individual career, personal goals.
• Career options, expected earnings based on academic interests.
Personal contact and other information about
prospective students to institutions.

16


Adult learners face unique barriers

Individual


System
• Stale credits
• Credit acceptance
• Aid timeframe
limits
• Access to records

• Family & work
obligations
• Remediation
• Veterans
transitions
• Negative
experiences

17


Message development

• Economic and Intrinsic Motivators
• Advance career
• Support family

• Common Barriers
• Financial
• Flexible program (time/place)
• Credit for prior experience

• Market Segmentation Prioritization (messaging and/or

imagery)
• Sub-Populations: Veterans; Parents
• Demographics: Age, Race/Ethnicity
• Barriers: Defaults/Repayments

Washington Student Achievement Council

18


Campus & State Role
Activity

State

Campus

Student Identification

centralized – flexibility to coordinate

TBD

Outreach

centralized – flexibility to coordinate

TBD

Microgrant


•
•

Student identification
Make payments

•
•

Student identification
Simplified reporting

Student Financial Aid

•

State financial aid (SNG, SBCTC OG)

•

Messaging to certain groups.

Portal

•
•
•
•


Content management
Data management
Site maintenance
Transfer inquiries to campus

•
•
•
•

Provide program & services content
Describe student incentives
Respond to inquiries
Simplified reporting

Completion Supports

•
•
•
•
•
•

Share and coordinate practices
Training and technical assistance
Pre-enrollment support
Employer and partner engagement
Resource allocation
Child care services and support


•
•
•
•
•
•

Enrollment support
Financial commitment
Program delivery
Employer and partner engagement
Completion support
Child care services and support

Washington Student Achievement Council

19


Tiers of Campus Participation
What are considerations for various levels of campus participation?
What requirements should be outlined in the MOU for the state and the campus?
• Bronze – Minimal Program Content Available
• Silver – Matched School Details
• Includes “incentives” offered if applicable

• Platinum – Receive Student Inquiries, MicroGrant, Campus Supports
• Provides self-reported information to campus


Washington Student Achievement Council

20


Cost: Policies, messages & coordination of
benefits
Policy
revie
w
Child
care

Micro
grant
COST

Messa
ge

Advisi
ng

21


Completion: Student support

Share
effective

practices that
support adult
learners.
Establish
regional
networks of
support.

Expand
partnerships
with
employers.
Improve
state-level
policies to
remove
barriers for
adult
learners.

22


Budget Requests

• Establish regional navigators
providing community-based coaches
and pre-enrollment support
• Expand child care matching grant
program to include CTCs and serve

additional student parents
• Expand microgrant pilot to address
preenrollment barriers
• Support participating institutions with
incentive funding to assess and
develop adult-focused supports
Washington Student Achievement Council

• TN Reconnect, Greater Minds in Spokane, and other
Graduate Network! Initiatives are successful
examples of personalized supports to adult learners
in a community.
• Former students sometimes have small dollar debts
impeding their re-enrollment by holding transcripts or
preventing enrollment (parking fees, library fine,
etc.).
• The barriers that prevented completion previously
may still exist and campuses can evaluate their “adult
friendly” polices and practices.

23


2018 Pave the Way Conference

Pave the Way will begin with a
pre-conference workshop on
adult learners.
November 28.



2018 Milestones

Wint
er
Sprin
g
Summ
er
Fall

Narrow target
population

Determine
features and
functionality of
portal

Draft portal RFP

Develop
communications
plan

Develop policy,
funding
recommendation
s


Determine
campus
participation
requirements

Statewide
effective
practice
exchange

Employer
engagement

Washington Student Achievement Council

Design microgrant

Campus
engagement

Post RFP

Select portal
vendor

25