If you want to create or expand an encore career pathway at your college, these resources provide a starting point. You’ll find below program profiles, practices, research, lessons and tips from community colleges that are preparing older students for encore careers that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact.
PAVING THE WAY TO ENCORE CAREERS: Encore College Initiative
The Encore College Initiative is creating educational pathways to encore careers in education, health, social services and the green economy. The initiative has supported innovation in 40 community colleges and generated effective practices and useful lessons, including:
Understanding Encore Careers
- Learn more about encore careers
- See a complete list of Encore.org research
Creating Encore Career Pathways
- Watch a webinar, Creating Pathways for Older Learners Seeking Encore Careers (September 2010)
- Read the publication, Pathways to Encore Careers: How 10 Community Colleges Are Preparing Boomers for Work in Education, Health Care and Social Services
- See a list of Community College Encore Career Programs by sector, practice, state, and in alphabetical order
- Learn some practical tips on starting an encore program
Tailoring College Programs for Encore Students
Marketing Encore College Programs
Sustaining and Expanding Encore College Programs
GETTING STARTED WITH PLUS 50 STUDENTS: AACC Plus 50
The American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Plus 50 Initiative is creating and expanding innovative community college programs that engage people over 50 in learning, training or re-training, as well as volunteer, civic or service activities. The website’s publications and resources are essential reading for colleges planning to serve plus-50 adult learners. Its website provides excellent resources for colleges, students and employers. Examples include:
- The Plus 50 Initiative: Standards of Excellence
- Jump Start Plus 50 self-assessment tool
- Plus 50 Business Community Outreach Toolkit
- Plus 50 Needs Assessment Toolkit
- Plus 50 Webinars
- More publications
CONNECTING OLDER ADULTS TO HIGHER EDUCATION: Reinvesting in the Third Age
This two-year American Council on Education (ACE) project aims to advance the understanding, awareness, good practices and policies that address the lifelong learning needs of older adults ages 55-79 and promote their education access and success. Key reports include:
- Mapping New Directions: Older Adults in Higher Education
- Framing New Terrain: Older Adults & Higher Education
IMPROVING ADULT LEARNER OPPORTUNITIES: Adult Learning Focused Institutions
This Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) initiative helps colleges and universities improve educational opportunities for working adults. A framework is presented in:
- Serving Adult Learners in Higher Education: Principles of Effectiveness
- Principles in Practice: Assessing Adult Learning Focused Institutions
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
- AARP Office of Academic Affairs: The Role of Community Colleges in an Aging Society, Linda Weiner, 2007.
- Encore.org/Met Life Foundation: Encore Colleges, David Bank, 2008.
- Encore.org: Community Colleges as Pathways to Significant Service for Post-Midlife Adults, 2006.
- Community College Journal: 50Plus Learners Find Passion Through Encore Careers, Marc Freedman and Judy Goggin, 2008.
- Portland Community College: Boomers Go to College: A Report on the Survey of Students 40 and Older, Portland Community College Taskforce on Aging, 2007.
