By Cynthia Tweedell
The
CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning at Indiana Wesleyan University is commencing a year-long study of different ways to structure adult higher education within colleges that have historically served traditional-aged students. The project will culminate in a book of case studies drawn from examples submitted by CCCU institutions, each exploring how institutions can maximize growth (and revenue) while maximizing the academic quality of adult programs. Richard Ellis, from John Brown University, and Steve Holtrop, from Huntington University are co-editors.
According to Dr. Ellis, there appear to be three broad institutional models in structuring adult programs. Some institutions outsource part of the work by using curricula developed by a third party or using an outside marketing firm. Some institutions centralize adult education to a specific department or college with the institution. Still others have a distributed model where adult education is administered within departments that serve the entire institution.
The Center for Research in Adult Learning is collecting examples from CCCU institutions. Their work to date indicates that many schools are experimenting with various combinations of outsourcing, centralizing, and distributing their adult higher education. Cynthia Tweedell, Executive Director of the Center, observes that institutions often begin with a department of adult education within a traditional college. Some others may compartmentalize the adult education operations into auxiliary off campus operations which are left to run themselves because they dont seem to fit into the traditional campus operations. To optimize rapid growth and development, institutions frequently place adult education in a separate, autonomous school or college. Some institutions maintain these distinct tracks, with adult studies units for marketing, curriculum, faculty development, records, planning, budget, etc., that are separate from the rest of the university. It is hoped that this year-long project will help institutions find the administrative structure which will best serve their adult education units.
To get involved in this project, please contact
Cynthia Tweedell. The Center for Research in Adult Learning is interested in input from all CCCU institutions with adult programs. Chapter proposals on the following topics are encouraged and
due by June 30:
- A description of your organizational structure for adult education, how it has evolved over time, and its advantages/disadvantages.
- A theory based presentation or advocacy of a particular governance structure
- Informed research on multiple institutions, possibly drawn from a dissertation or other academic research
- A before and after comparison of an institution that went from one model to another (e.g., outsourced to distributed)
- Analysis by functional area, such as Financial Aid, Registrar, admissions/recruiting (e.g., the pros and cons of a centralized financial aid office).
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of 184 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 109 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 75 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Councils mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.
###