Plus 50 Initiative: What Have We

Learned So Far?

90th Annual AACC Convention 

April 17-20, 2010Seattle, WA

A baby boomer turns 50 every 7.5 seconds.

Boomers Go Plus 50

The New “Third Stage” of Life

• Thanks to advances in healthcare, the traditional “third stage” of life has also expanded.

• Most baby boomers can expect to spend three decades in retirement.

Plus 50 adults want to stay actively engaged in the workplace, in education and in service opportunities.

Not the Stereotypical Retirement

Percent change in labor force by age, projected 2008-2018

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What is the Plus 50 Initiative?Innovative program reaching out to adult learners who are age 50 and up that is benchmarking standards of excellence among community colleges nationwide.

• Plus 50 Training & Re-Training

• Plus 50 Learning

• Plus 50 Volunteering

Colleges' Plus 50 Program Focus Areas

Colleges' Plus 50 Program Focus Areas

30%

58%

86%

2008 2009 50% 75% 100%

Service and

Volunteering

Training / Re-Training

Academic / Enrichment /

Personal Interest

What have we learned?

http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/docs/pr/Plus50_Year_One_Evaluation_Report.pdf

Standards of Excellence for Plus 50 Programming

Plus 50 offerings should be tailored to the needs, interests, and objectives of the plus 50 population.

Standards of Excellence for Plus 50 Programming

Faculty and staff should receive professional development that provides them with the skills they need to teach courses and provide services that effectively meet the needs of plus 50 students.

Standards of Excellence for Plus 50 Programming

Plus 50 offerings should be marketed in such a way that does not appeal to astudent’s identity as a “senior.”  

Standards of Excellence for Plus 50 Programming

Colleges should publicize student storiesto attract plus 50 students to campus. 

Standards of Excellence for Plus 50 Programming

Colleges should set up a Plus 50 Advisory Committee to help develop programming and to support sustainability efforts, and should ensure that it includes community partners, as well as people who have expertise with this age group.

Standards of Excellence for Plus 50 Programming

Program staff should seek to build an internal constituency for Plus 50 programming at their college to help ensure sustainability.

Growth in Credit and Non-Credit Plus 50 Workforce Training Courses

Enrollment of Plus 50 Students in Workforce Training Courses(Changes from Baseline to Year One)

Career Counseling and Career Workshops(Changes from Baseline to Year One in Number of Clients Served)

Plus 50 Initiative Website

http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/