Downtown Experience Celebration & Pittsburgh Alive Collaborative

On April 29, 2009 at 6 p.m., Fragasso Financial Advisors will honor the leadership of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Point Park University, Duquesne University and Robert Morris University for their contributions to Downtown Pittsburgh’s economy, vitality, culture and landscape.  This recognition event will take place at The Rivers Club in One Oxford Centre. 

Students from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Point Park University, and Robert Morris University have met regularly to share experiences, learn from one another and discuss the advantages of choosing to attend a college in Downtown Pittsburgh. The student team consists of illustrators, designers, photographers, video artists, writers, and public relations majors who were brought together by Fragasso Financial Advisors in preparation for the firm’s fourth annual Downtown Experience Celebration.

The student collaboration has been dubbed “Pittsburgh Alive!” and the student team will unveil a publication at the event that outlines, from their perspective, the distinct advantages of attending college in an urban setting, and specifically, the advantages of choosing Downtown Pittsburgh as their campus.

If you are interested in learning more about the collaboration or would like to attend the April 29^th Downtown Experience Celebration, please contact Carrie Butler, Director of Public Relations, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, cbutler@aii.edu  412-291-6340.   

RMU School of Business Earns AACSB Accreditation

The Robert Morris University (RMU) School of Business has earned initial accreditation by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, joining only 5 percent of business schools worldwide to carry this prestigious recognition.  RMU’s School of Business joins only three programs in Pittsburgh to achieve this credential: Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh.  RMU also is accredited as an institution by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

“This is a great honor for the RMU School of Business,” said Derya Jacobs, dean of the School of Business. “It shows how committed we are to meeting and exceeding the highest standards of business education.”

AACSB International is an association of educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations recognized worldwide as the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business schools and accounting programs. This highly coveted recognition represents the peak standard of achievement for business schools; only 559 business schools in the world have achieved AACSB accreditation, and only one-third of business schools in the United States. 

To achieve accreditation, RMU’s business program had to undergo a meticulous internal review and evaluation process. During this six-year period, the school developed and implemented a mission-driven plan to satisfy 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, and interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programs.  

The team’s report singled out RMU’s focus on “professional development and active student engagement through internships, co-op experiences, and research projects.” They were also pleased with the level of support given to students through the RMU Career Center and the Early Success Program. The review team reported that RMU’s Board of Trustees, president and provost are strongly committed to “building and sustaining a high-quality business school.” They recognized Jacobs’ outstanding leadership and the school’s “high quality and caring faculty,” and they noted the school’s emphasis on communication and its strong relationship with the regional business community.

University of Phoenix's Severely Injured Veterans Scholarship

University of Phoenix's Severely Injured Veterans scholarship program is recognized on the U.S. Army Community Covenant web site as a national best practice in support of military members and their families. The scholarship program was created to honor brave men and women who return home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan with severe injuries. Through full-tuition scholarships, injured veterans are empowered to reach their academic goals or pursue second careers.

University of Phoenix Severely Injured Veterans Scholarship program is especially proud to partner with Armed Forces Foundation in paying tribute to those who fight heroically for the protection of American freedoms. Four (4) full-tuition scholarships will be for severely injured veterans/service members, and one (1) full-tuition scholarship will be for a spouse or primary caretaker of a severely injured veteran/service member. These scholarships can be used toward one bachelor’s or master’s degree program of choice.

Education Opportunity Center  FAFSA Filing Day

The Education Opportunity Center has made a goal of submitting the most financial aid applications in a single day.  Please pass along the information to anyone interested to bring their 2008 tax information from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM on Saturday April 18^th, 2009 to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; 130 S Whitefield Street #5920; Pittsburgh, PA 15206.  They welcome walk-ins.  Call Cheryl Sorrentino at 1-888-362-7972 for additional information. www.equity.psu.edu/eocswpa

Continuing Higher Education (CHE)
DCCC teams with Drexel to offer engineering degree

Preparing for a rewarding career in applied engineering is now more convenient, accessible, and affordable, thanks to a unique agreement between Delaware County Community College (DCCC) and Drexel University, Philadelphia.

The agreement establishes the Dual Enrollment Program in Applied Engineering Technology. Students in the program will be enrolled at both Drexel and DCCC, working concurrently on both their bachelor of science degree (B.S) in Applied Engineering Technology from Drexel and their associate in applied science degree (AAS) in Automated Manufacturing/Robotics, Machine Tool Technology, or Mechanical Technology from DCCC.

As an added benefit, students can earn certifications recognized by industry and required by employers for immediate entry into the workforce. DCCC currently offers four certificates of competency and one certificate of proficiency in advanced manufacturing. Each certificate program can be completed in six months to one year. Students can automatically apply credits earned for a certificate to their AAS and, subsequently, to their BS degrees.

Students will complete all classes at the new state-of-the-art technology facility at DCCC's Malin Road Center in Broomall, PA.

“This program is a win-win situation for students, for our two colleges, and for our region,” said DCCC President Dr. Jerry Parker. “Students receive a quality education from the Greater Philadelphia region's leading institutions in technology education. They also pay the lowest possible tuition for technology education­saving thousands of dollars over what they would normally pay for a four-year degree from Drexel. The cost savings our two institutions realize from this collaboration are directly passed on to our students.”

Parker added that the program should help address the chronic shortage of highly skilled technicians in the manufacturing sector, a situation restricting economic growth in the region and across the state. The situation is creating excellent career opportunities for skilled machinists, CNC programmers, and toolmakers, who can apply technology in the workplace. Entry- and mid-level salaries are attractive and opportunities for advancement to supervisory, managerial, and manufacturing engineering positions are increasing.

For information about the Dual Enrollment Program in Applied Engineering Technology, contact the Drexel/DCCC Connection, voice phone 610-359-5063 or e-mail wyakabos@dccc.edu.

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Judy Cope remembered

Judith L. Cope, Ph.D., a past president and life member of PAACE, passed away suddenly on May 1, 2004. Judy, as she was known, lived in South Pasadena, California. She lived in Indiana, PA during her active years in adult education in this state. From 1987 until her death, she was a professor at the California State University in Los Angeles, specializing in brain research applied to the learning environment. For eight years, she was coordinator of the university’s Adult Education Credential Program. She was nationally recognized as an outstanding adult educator. She chaired the 1983 AAACE Conference in Philadelphia.

Judy earned her doctorate in curriculum and supervision at the University of Pittsburgh in 1981. She was the fourth recipient of the PAACE Outstanding Adult Educator award.

Longtime PAACE members remember Judy as a bright, loquacious, energetic, and very cheerful person who was always deeply involved in the organization and all of her work in adult education.

She is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, a brother, and four grandchildren. A memorial service was being planned in Laguna, CA.

Her university Web page features a number of links related to her work that might be of interest to PAACE members: http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/jcope/

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Gordon Godbey, legendary adult educator

Dr. Gordon Clay Godbey, of Muncy, formerly of State College, passed away Friday, June 18, 2004, from complications of long-term heart problems. He was 86.

Dr. Godbey received his undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Kentucky and his doctorate of education from Harvard University. He was a college professor and assistant dean at Penn State. Dr. Godbey taught at the University of Delaware where he was the head of continuing education for the state of Delaware. He also taught as the University of Maine, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Godbey was the founder and first president of the Pennsylvania Adult Education Association, one of the organizations that merged to become PAACE in 1979. He was a columnist for the Muncy Luminary and had served on the Muncy Community Action Program. He assisted in establishing the distance learning program for Australia and the adult education program for new arrivals in Israel. He was a poet and amateur actor. Many PAACE members fondly remember Dr. Godbey’s great humor and intelligence in countless settings.

He served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II.

In addition to his wife, Sarah, with whom he celebrated a 63rd wedding anniversary last year, he is survived by one daughter, three sons, one son-in-law, two daughters-in-law, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His son, Dr. Galen Godbey, was the keynote speaker at the 2004 PAACE Midwinter Conference.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Janette Godbey.

Visit www.betzerfuneral.com to sign the guest book or send an e-condolence.

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PAACE Journal still accepting manuscripts

Do you have that article almost completed but just haven't gotten around to completing it? Have you carried out some research project but just haven't gotten around to putting the results on paper? Well, now's your chance. Manuscripts are still being accepted through the end of the summer for possible publication (after peer review and recommendation) in Volume 14 (2005) of the PAACE Journal of Lifelong Learning.

Submit manuscripts--and direct questions--to:

Gary J. Dean and Trenton R. Ferro, Editors
PAACE Journal of Lifelong Learning
Department of Adult & Community Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
104 Davis Hall, 570 S. 11th Street
Indiana, PA 15705
E-mail for Gary Dean: gjdean@iup.edu
E-mail for Trenton Ferro: trferro@iup.edu

"When Is a Funnel Not a Funnel?"

…when it's a recruitment model!

Attracting students is a daunting task, and recruitment of adult students can be an even greater challenge. Therefore, an efficient conceptualization of recruitment is critical to creating and populating adult programs.

Although universality is seldom achieved in the recruitment of adult learners, it may be possible to adapt and apply a useful model of recruitment such that individual schools can implement this model. Once such a model has been developed, it may be possible to make more realistic projections of numbers of students necessary to recruit and thus maintain those programs and/or schools.

Kathleen Chrisman, Ph.D., Associate Director of Graduate Admissions at Carlow College, and Adeline Belohlavek, B.A., Graduate Assistant, are currently investigating such a model for more effective adult student recruitment.

A select number of western Pennsylvania colleges and universities will be invited to participate in a pilot study regarding their adult student populations. We will seek data regarding various stages of recruiting adult learners.

We will attempt to define terms to elicit statistical data that will enable comparisons across time and among schools and programs. We believe that, ultimately, this information will improve our understanding of effective vs. ineffective methods of recruitment and retention.

The "funnel model" of recruitment, based on a business model of the early 20th century, will be employed as the basis for understanding the prospective adult student market. This model is predicated on the principal that at each stage of the process-from the total potential audience in a given region to inquiries to applications, admission and enrollment-the number of prospects decreases.

This information may also assist in the allocation of valuable resources necessary to support and retain these students through graduation.

The purpose of the pilot is to compile and compare adult-learner statistics, plug them into the model and eventually publish how this efficient model of adult student recruitment may be implemented.

In the future, we hope to increase the number of participating schools and enlarge our geographic database. This will demonstrate how the funnel model may positively impact academic institutions to market, recruit, retain and ultimately graduate their adult learners.

If you have had any experience with the "funnel model" of recruitment and would like to offer comments or suggestions, send e-mail to kchrisman@carlow.edu.
--Dr. Kathleen Chrisman

"The 39th Annual Adult Education Midwinter Conference…at a Glance"

In February, the Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE), in partnership with CEA/PA, hosted the 39th Annual Adult Education Midwinter Conference: "Adult Education in a Changing World." The conference was held at the Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, and was attended by about 750 PAACE members representing various educational organizations-from literacy and English-as-a-Second-Language programs to institutions of higher education to corrections-based programs.

The conference provides a unique opportunity to not only become aware of the variety of such organizations but to meet and interact with their representatives and learn about those issues, which most closely affect them. It becomes clear that, while we often learn about instances where individuals or small groups have "fallen through the cracks," there are an impressive number of services available to help those with little or no particular training and, equally, a number of amazing people who provide those services.

The keynote address, offered by Dr. Galen C. Godbey, focused on the concept and usefulness of globalization-globalization as a rich resource and not a threat. Dr. Godbey is Associate to the President for Globalization at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. He has a rich history in and on behalf of educational institutions but, more recently, has devoted his efforts to promote preparation of "global-ready graduates," across-the-board.

In a concurrent session following his keynote, Dr. Godbey led a lively discussion of the value and necessity of engaging in global interactions. Essentially, it's the old "why reinvent the wheel" adage. It's likely that one's problem or situation has occurred before, that someone has explored-perhaps, resolved-it, and can offer valuable insight and suggestions. Technology supports this exchange.

A number of participants attended the CEA/PA social, ably organized by Robert McNeill ( Delaware Valley College) Bob, a CEA/PA board member, rose to first vice-president of PAACE at the conference and, thus, will be president next year. Joining him and other PAACE dignitaries on the dais at the conference banquet was Dr. Jan Orris (The Pennsylvania State University-New Kensington), newly installed president of CEA/PA.

There were a wide variety of presentations as evidenced by the program compiled for this year's conference, published on the PAACE web site. A major goal Jan hopes to achieve during his term is to generate more, and more intriguing, presentations by the Higher Education Division.

The Continuing Higher Education Division Meeting was held on the final day of the conference. At the meeting, there were suggestions for next year's programming. It is the hope of the current board to have a much larger delegation of CEA/PA members at the 2005 MidWinter Conference.
--Dr. Kathleen Chrisman

Hot Stuff to Explore!
Are YOU Searching for Source and/or
Reference Material on the Economic Future of PA?

• Need to write a grant?
• Program attendance numbers down?
• Seeking new educational program directions?
• Want to explore Workforce Development a little further?
• Wondering about PA population: shift, growth, and loss?
• Wondering what is happening/influencing your part of PA?

If "YES" is your answer, explore the following web sites = a plethora of information!

BROOKINGS INSTITUTION

http://www.brooking.edu/es/urban/publications/pa.htm
"Back to Prosperity: A Competitive Agenda for Renewing Pennsylvania"

• Download this interesting report by sections
• Profiles of nine metropolitan areas in PA - interesting - and the 9 are: Erie, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Reading, Pittsburgh, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazelton and York
• Background papers
• Additional resources and information

http://www.brookings.edu/es/urban/speeches/200312_PA.htm

• Statewide PowerPoint Presentation (in 2 parts) by Bruce Katz, December 2003 This PowerPoint illustrates stagnant growth, housing sprawl, and the increasing abandonment of Pennsylvania's cities and older suburbs--trends dimming the prospects for developing a high-wage economy in the state. Bruce Katz is Vice President, Brookings and Director, Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, Economic Studies.

THE KEYSTONE RESEARCH CENTER (KRC)

http://www.keystoneresearch.org
The Keystone Research Center (KRC) = Ideas for a Better Pennsylvania

• The KRC works in partnership with Brookings Institution
• "A Workforce Development Agenda for the New Governor" (2002)
• PA Population "sprawl" and its related issues
• Additional resources and information

Answering a challenge
by Charlene H. Harrison, D.Ed., The Pennsylvania State University

Editor's note: This article was submitted for publication in PAACE News during the summer of 2003 and was inadvertently excluded from the Fall 2003 issue. We are grateful for all submissions of professional interest to PAACE members and apologize for the omission.

Carol B. Aslanian delivered the keynote address at May 2002's Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference, a conference sponsored for Penn Staters by the university's Commission for Adult Learners. Ms. Aslanian shared results from her book, Adult Students Today (2001), published by The College Board, which summarized the findings of a 2002 nationwide study of credit and noncredit adult learners conducted by The College Board. This study provided a national picture of the undergraduate, the graduate, and the noncredit adult learner. At the conclusion of her presentation, Ms. Aslanian challenged us to learn more about Penn State's undergraduate adult enrollees in comparison with the national picture. During the 2002-03 academic year, my colleagues and I sought to do just that.

Our efforts were directed at learning about Penn State's undergraduate adult applicants and enrollees across the university's twenty undergraduate locations and the World Campus. Some of our findings regarding the university's undergraduate adult applicants from 1998 through 2002 are summarized below:

• Women were slightly more likely to apply than men.
• Most applicants were white and from Pennsylvania.
• Almost half were age 29 and younger; the median age was 30 years; the mean age was 32.
• About 43% of applicants were transfer applicants, about 27% were freshman applicants, and the remainder had provisional, provisional/nondegree to degree, and other applicant status.
• Most applicants sought bachelor's degrees.

In contrast to the traditional-age undergraduate applicant, adults were 'late' applicants with large numbers filing applications in the months immediately before their intended enrollment date.

Looking at five fall semesters (1998-2002) of data for undergraduate adults enrolled at the 20 campus locations (the World Campus was excluded), the following profile emerged:

• The percentage of women enrollees increased slightly from their percentage of adult applicants.
• The percentage of Pennsylvanians and of white students increased over their representation among applicants.
• There were slightly more enrollees age 29 and younger than among applicants.
• Almost half held provisional, nondegree, and common year status.
• The colleges at University Park with the largest numbers of adult enrollees were the College of the Liberal Arts, Health and Human Development, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences.
• More adult enrollees sought associate degrees than baccalaureate degrees.
• Almost 40% of those enrolled at Commonwealth College locations were seeking Commonwealth College degrees.
• Almost 60% were enrolled as full-time students.
• Forty-two percent graduated in four years.

The findings for Penn States undergraduate adult enrollees differed somewhat from Aslanian's national picture. For example, they were younger, less likely to be female, more likely to study full time, and more likely to study the liberal arts. The findings also had implications for the timing of recruitment programs, the timing of student aid awards for adult learners, the content of marketing messages, and more.

Just as Carol Aslanian challenged us at Penn State to learn more about our undergraduate adult learners, I encourage all of us to learn more about our adult applicants and enrollees if we have not already done so. You too will identify implications for policy and procedural change or development, for recruitment or retention practice, and for better serving the adults living in your communities who come to you seeking assistance to reach their educational goals.

The College Level Examination Program

Jan Orris, Continuing Education, Penn State University - New Kensington
Better known as CLEP, the College Level Examination Program is a nationally recognized series of examinations which allow the student to demonstrate knowledge acquired in a non-college setting. There are five general exams and thirty subject exams.

Many of you are familiar with the program. Because I believe the exam is so important to the adult student, I wanted to at least provide an update. If you don't have a test center on your campus, I would urge you to consider it. The test is now completely computer-based. The paper and pencil tests are gone! There are so many advantages to being computer based. There are no tests to order, no scoring to be done, tests to return, or students waiting for their scores.

A center can be operated with only a few computers or you can use an entire computer lab. The computers do not have to be designated, i.e., they can be used for other things. At Penn State New Kensington, we are an open test center. This means that we test everyone. You can choose to be a closed test center and only test your own students. We are fortunate to have our own computer lab. However, we have numerous classes and so we test when it is convenient for the student and ourselves.

If you would like to explore the possibility of being a test center, please let me know. My phone is (724) 334-6013 and by email at jeo2@psu.edu.