It is time to review the schedule for the placement of your session in the AAACE Agenda. This is the final draft of the Schedule. When you look up your name, use the detail listing to check what days/times you asked to be placed. This is a huge program and we can accommodate necessary changes in day and time now, but may not be able to do so after September 1, 2013 except in emergencies. Please carefully check your placement and send any requests to Ginger Phillips, AAACE Conference Planner with AAACE Session Change Request in the subject line. We will respond to your email, but it may take us up to a week to do so. Thanks for your help in "fine tuning" this agenda!
Community Colleges and Workforce Training: Effective Strategies for Educating Older Displaced Workers
Type of Presentation
Concurrent
Session Abstract
This presentation will discuss challenges unemployed older adults face in seeking reemployment and effective programs at community colleges to improve their educational and employment outcomes.
Target Audience
The aging of the U.S. workforce combined with unique challenges faced by unemployed older workers make this topic of interest to a broad audience. Educators, program administrators and others involved in lifelong learning and educational programs that include older adults should attend this session.
Learning Outcomes
1. After attending this session, learners will be able to describe challenges older students face in attending community colleges.
2. After attending this session, learners will be able to identify strategies implemented at community colleges that result in successful outcomes for older students.
3. After attending this session, learners will be able to better understand the importance of early contact with displaced workers to ensure timely enrollment in an educational program.
4. After attending this session, learners will have a better understanding of the issues older student face in selecting a new career.
Session Description
Unemployed older adults may not have the skills required for available jobs and may need to acquire new skills in order to become reemployed. For U.S. workers in general, and for older workers seeking employment, credential attainment is a significant trend and community colleges play an important role in that endeavor. Using a multi-stage Delphi method, 10 community colleges were selected for key informant telephone interviews or site visits to gain a better understanding of the role community colleges play in providing credential-focused training for older workers. Areas that were explored during the site visits and interviews include challenges faced by older students, outreach programs, strategies to improve retention rates, educational programs that involve credential attainment, job placement, employer relationships, and student financial support, all related to older students. Findings suggest that peer mentoring, intensive counseling services, financial aid, and strong employer relationships are all important for successful outcomes.
Efforts are made to try to schedule sessions on the day preferred by the Primary Presenter, though this cannot be guaranteed. Please check your preference.
Wednesday November 6
Primary Presenter
Phyllis Cummins, Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University
Work Title
Post Doctoral Fellow