Breakout Session 1
10:10 – 11 a.m.
All times based on Central Time Zone (CDT)
Gini Beran
Director, CLEP Outreach
College Board
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Track(s): Promoting Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Description: The Adult Learner comes to an institution not as an empty shell that needs to be filled, but rather already in possession of knowledge, skills and learning. Are you providing academic recognition for this prior learning? Whether you’re inviting students back to complete a degree or enroll first time Adult Learners, students seek ways to accelerate time to degree while saving money and CLEP can be a terrific fit.
Joe Richter
Project Manager Foundations for the Future
Sue Dion
Director of Academic Partnerships
Century College
Track(s): Collaborating with Workforce Service Providers, Developing Adult-Based Programs
Learn about the north east metro transition region’s adult career pathways. Leveraging the strengths of each organization to build pathways from cross sector entry points, and industry certifications to post-secondary programs.
MARY BETH LAKIN View Bio
Director, Minnesota State Credit for Prior Learning Assessment Network (C-PLAN)
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Track(s): Promoting Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Join an interactive session on credit for prior learning (CPL) capacity building and program sustainability. Workshop participants will address challenges, opportunities and strategies regarding effective practice implementation. Topics include: infrastructure building, faculty engagement, student outreach and advising, policy development, best practice, and strategic advocacy. Hear about examples of CPL implementation at both the institutional and system level, with a special focus on Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ Credit for Prior Learning Assessment Network, or C-PLAN.
Brenda Lyseng View Bio
Project Director for Title III grant, Adult Learners: Service, Success & Growth
Inver Hills Community College & Dakota County Technical College
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Nate Maertens View Bio
Instructor
Inver Hills Community College
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Vicky Knickerbocker View Bio
Instructor
Inver Hills Community College
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Track(s): Incarceration
Inver Hills offers courses at five correctional facilities, providing keys to unlock opportunities. Faculty that teach in the facilities will share their experiences from the logistical challenges to lessons learned from their student. What pedagogical tools do the faculty use? What attributes do you need to be successful in this setting? We are also seeking feedback on faculty development opportunities being developed.
ELIZABETH FONTAINE View Bio
Program Manager- College Readiness Academy
International Institute of Minnesota
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
MADIE SPARTZ View Bio
College Navigator
College Readiness Academy
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Track(s): Advising Adult Learners, Developing Adult-Based Programs, Focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
College Readiness Academy (CRA), offered by the International Institute of Minnesota, is an innovative model with proven success in preparing college-bound adults for college-level coursework. Presenters will highlight the challenges that led to the development of CRA, describe our classes and navigation system, and demonstrate how the CRA model might work for your students.
MARTIN SPRINGBORG View Bio
Director of Teaching and Learning
Inver Hills Community College & Dakota County Technical College
Pronouns: He, Him, His
SUSAN FARMER View Bio
Instructor
Dakota County Technical College
WES JORDE View Bio
Instructor
Dakota County Technical College
Kathleen Paukert View Bio
Medical Assistant Program Director
Dakota County Technical College
Track(s): Teaching the Adult Student
In the latter half of this semester, faculty have had to rethink their approach to course delivery, moving all or the majority of their instruction online. In this session, three Dakota County Technical College faculty will discuss how they have adapted to reaching and teaching their adult learners – and all students – online.
Topics covered in this session include: conducting class sessions synchronously using Zoom; increasing student engagement in asynchronous courses using D2L Brightspace tools; designing a flexible, mastery-based online course.
GINA SOBANIA View Bio
Director of Miltary, Veteran, and Adult Learner Services
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
DAVE BELLEFEUILLE View Bio
Director of Education and Employment
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Track(s): Supporting the Needs of Veterans
This session is intended to provide attendees an overview of system and statewide efforts to assist and support military-connected students.
Transition to college can be challenging for non-traditional, military-connected students. In many cases, Veterans have not been in a traditional classroom setting for several years. The state and federal education benefits are complicated and confusing. These reasons, among others, can create a difficult transition for military students.