Austin Community College District (ACC) is one of 20 institutions selected nationwide for a special initiative from Achieving the Dream (ATD) and Lumina Foundation to increase adult participation \u2014 particularly among Black, Hispanic\/Latinx, and Native American students aged 25 and over \u2014 in quality credit-bearing and non-credit programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prioritizing Adult Community College Enrollment (PACCE) initiative will support ACC and other selected colleges as they implement strategies for boosting adult learner enrollment in programs that lead to post-high school credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommunity colleges play a vital role within higher education to act as open-access hubs of growth and opportunity for the diverse students they serve,\u201d said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of ATD. \u201cWe are excited to support these institutions as they develop strategies to better serve adult learners, a priority that aligns with ATD\u2019s deep commitment to building stronger pipelines to and through postsecondary education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cACC is honored to be selected for this grant. The PACCE initiative is rooted in meaningful and collaborative work that will help all of us build better pathways for adult learners \u2014 particularly among those who are historically underserved,\u201d says Dr. Melissa Curtis, ACC associate vice chancellor of Enrollment Management. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to work together to develop lasting partnerships and strategies that will make a difference to our community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the initiative, ACC proposes to scale up and strengthen the pipeline from the college\u2019s Adult Education programs to credit programs that grant degrees and certificates. By strengthening this pipeline, the college will create more educational and employment opportunities for learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The college will receive a flexible grant of up to $75,000, along with technical assistance and programmatic support from participating partners. The group includes five rural, six suburban, and nine urban colleges. Among these are eight Hispanic-Serving Institutions, one Historically Black College, one Asian American and Native American-Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and one institution designed solely to serve incarcerated students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHelping more adults earn credentials of value starts with having labor-market-aligned programs that adults can enroll in and succeed,\u201d said Dr. Chauncy Lennon, Lumina\u2019s vice president for learning and work. \u201cThe colleges receiving grants are prioritizing adults by strategically supporting their participation at scale.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe grant comes at a time of significant importance for community colleges as we work to reduce barriers for adult students,\u201d said Dr. Monica Parrish Trent, ATD\u2019s vice president for network engagement. \u201cWe are excited to collaborate with Lumina and national partners to support these 20 colleges in boosting enrollments and credential attainment by holistically serving adults, particularly adult learners of color, and disseminating learnings into the field.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 20 colleges receiving PACCE grants are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PACCE is supported with funding from Lumina Foundation and in partnership with ideas42, rpk GROUP, and Equal Measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n