Adult Learner Success Series: Meeting the Programming Needs of Adult Learners

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Adult Learner Success Series Meeting the
Programming Needs of Adult Learners

• Jessica L. Kirkwood, Coordinator of Career
  Internship Services
• Debra Mynar, Adult Learner
• Penn State Lehigh Valley

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Development of ALSS
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Penn State Lehigh Valley

• Approximately 850 students enrolled
• Five Bachelor degree programs
• Three Associate degree programs
• Two minors
• Adult Learner population of approx. 22

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Adult Development Theories

• Erickson 3/8 stages of psychosocial development
  focus on adulthood
• Intimacy vs. Isolation, Generativity vs.
  Stagnation, Integrity vs. Despair
• Schlossberg transitions adult development
• Belenky, Clichy, Goldberger, Tarule (1986)
  women finding a voice
• Reeves, P.M. (1999)

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Programming Topics Adult Development Theories

• Financial Planning
• Generativity vs. Stagnation, Integrity vs.
  Despair
• Technology
• Schlossberg
• Networking/Mentoring
• Intimacy vs. Isolation
• Empowerment of Women
• Belenky, Clichy, Goldberger, Tarule (1986)

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Goals of ALSS

• Increase recruitment, retention, and satisfaction
  of adult learners at Penn State Lehigh Valley
• Connect adult learners to the campus community
  through the development of relationships with
  each other
• Help adult learners develop their own identity
  and support system on campus
• Provide programs of interest that will increase
  learning (knowledge) participation of adult
  learners in out-of-class (co-curricular)
  activities

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Program Planning
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Adult Learner Advisory Council

• Developed to provide feedback and suggestions for
  the ALSS program
• Requirements
• Attend two meetings each semester
• Attend one ALSS event each semester

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ALAC Membership

• 16 adult learners
• 5 faculty
• 4 staff members

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Collaborations Support

• University Relations
• Digital Commons
• Alumni Relations
• Penn State Alumni Career Services
• Student Affairs
• Faculty/staff
• Area professionals/community members

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Marketing, Advertising, Promotion

• Invitations sent via postal mail to all PSLV
  adult learners (Fall 160, Spring 142)
• Invitations emailed to all PSLV adult learners
• Active participation of adult learners in
  programs (presenters)
• 14 X 8.5 colored posters
• PSLV Newswire
• PSLV News Events on homepage
• PSLV online campus calendar
• Career Services website (Events page)
• Table tents
• PSU LV Adult Learner group on Facebook
• Student Affairs emails to students regarding
  campus events
• Emails to faculty staff to promote events
• Word of mouth
• Promotion by Adult Learner Advisory Council

Adult Learner Success Series Nittany Networking
Event Allentown BrewWorks, Hamilton
Room February 26, 2009
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ALSS Programs
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Financial Planning for the Future
Focusing on money management in the current
economic climate, as adult learners face multiple
challenges such as supporting a family, funding
their education, debt, job loss and retirement
ATTENDANCE 50 adult learners, faculty, staff,
evening business class
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Investing, Budgeting Decreasing Debt

• Kevin Brosious, CFP, CPA, PFS
• Founder President of Wealth Management, Inc., a
  financial planning and registered investment
  advisory firm
• Adjunct professor at both Penn State Lehigh
  Valley and DeSales Universities teaching personal
  finance, investments and other business courses

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Saving Strategies Finding the Right
Financial Planner

• Ray Hitti
• Marketing Manager for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
• 10 years with John Hancock Mutual Life
• Adjunct business professor at Penn State Lehigh
  Valley

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Empowering Adult Learnersthrough Technology

• Combining technology and networking to
  increase community identity among adult learners
  by providing alternative methods of connecting.
• ATTENDANCE
• 16 adult learners, faculty and staff

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Empowering Adult Learnersthrough Technology

• PSU-LV Adult Learners on Facebook
• Tricia Clark Instructional Designer
• Eileen Grodziak Digital Commons
• Jessica Kirkwood Coordinator, Career Services
• Debra Mynar a students perspective

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Empowering Adult Learnersthrough Technology

• LionLink
• Professional networking program for PSU students
  and alumni offered through Alumni Career Services
• Connects and establishes relationships with
  alumni for career information, advice and more
  connections
• Networking etiquette

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Empowering Adult Learnersthrough Technology

• Nittany Lion Recruiting
• PSU on-line internship and job posting system
• Create a profile
• Post a resume
• Search for internships
• Search for part-time and full-time employment
  opportunities

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Empowering Adult Learnersthrough Technology

• Blogging
• Kate Morgan - Director, University Relations
• Sharin Crivellaro a students perspective
• The blogs at Penn State
• Alex Burdine a students perspective
• Blogging for

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Nittany Networking Event

• WE ARE PENN STATE!
• Bringing adult learners and alumni together to
  build a bridge for mentoring and networking
• ATTENDANCE
• 68 adult learners, faculty, staff, alumni and
  guests

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Nittany Networking Event

• A joint effort of
• PSU-LV Career Services
• PSU-LV Alumni Society
• PSU Alumni Career Services
• Tips on effective networking
• Jennifer Wetzel Misty Pavlic,
• PSU Alumni Career Services

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Nittany Networking Event

• William Baker Owner, Dunderbaks Cafe
• Director of National Restaurant Association

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Women Work

• Developing an understanding of women as
  leaders and learning about opportunities for
  women in local organizations
• ATTENDANCE
• 14 adult learners, faculty, staff and
  organization representatives

Adult Learner Success Series Women Work Penn
State Lehigh Valley May 7, 2009
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Women Work

• Dr. David Livert
• Asst. Professor of Psychology
• Lorraine McClure a students perspective
• Asst. to Director of Student Affairs
• May B.S. Business graduate

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Womens Organizations

• Business Professional Womens Club of the
  Lehigh Valley
• To achieve equity for all women in the workplace
  through advocacy, education, and information
• League of Women Voters
• A nonpartisan political organization, encourages
  informed and active participation in government,
  works to increase understanding of major public
  policy issues, and influences public policy
  through education and advocacy
• CareerLink
• Connects communities, organizations and
  individuals to new ideas, technologies, talent,
  jobs, and opportunities

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Assessment
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ALSS Program Survey

• Likert 4 point scale 5 questions
• Assessed knowledge, interaction, connectedness,
  and likelihood of future participation
• One open-ended question
• One multiple choice question
• 30 surveys completed

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ALSS Survey RESULTS
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ALSS Survey RESULTS

• What programs/services/events will increase
  satisfaction levels? (multiple choice)
• Adult learner organization (23)
• Professional development (17)
• Lecture series (16)
• Family-friendly activities (7)
• Other (1 mentoring)

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ALSS Survey RESULTS

• How can PSLV enhance the co-curricular experience
  increase investment in campus community?
• These workshops and discussions are a great
  beginning.
• By continuing to build relationships on the
  level of an adult learner and offer them more
  programs which will be helpful to them in their
  everyday lives.
• Ive enjoyed hearing the personal stories that
  have been shared through these sessions. Thank
  you.
• Specific topic suggestions more detailed
  active Facebook group, time management, Second
  Life, direct mentoring

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Future of ALSS
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Group Discussion

• What programs or activities are most likely to
  attract a large percentage of such a diverse
  population of adult learners?

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Suggested Improvements

• Actively utilizing adult learners and/or Adult
  Learner Advisory Council to plan implement
  programs
• Participation in SGA
• Development of Adult Learner Organization
• Collaboration with departments
• Student Development Team (Student Affairs)
• Alumni Relations
• Faculty buy-in

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References

• Reeves, P. M. (1999). Psychological Development.
  In M. C.
• Clark R. S. Caffarella (Eds.), New
  directions for adult
• and continuing education Number 84. An
  update on
• adult development theory New ways of
  thinking about
• the life course (pp. 19-27). San Francisco,
  CA Jossey Bass
• Publishers.
•  

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Questions???