DOCUMENT REsUME ED 322 977 JC 900 479 AUTHOR Charles, Richard F., Ed.; Bartunek, Carol, Ed. TITLE Community College Programs for the Older Adult Learner. INSTITUTION Foothill-De Anza Community Coll. District, Los Altos Hills, Calif.; League for Innovation in the Community Coll., Los Angeles, Calif. PUB DATE Apr 89 NOTE 50p. PUB TYPE Reports - Evaluative/FeasibilitY (142) EDRS PRICE mra/Pco2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Ancillary School Services; *Community Colleges; Demography; Educational Innovation; Educational Planning; Enrollment Projections; Lifelong Learning; *Middle Aged Adults; *Older Adults; Part Time Faculty; *Profiles; Program Descriptions; School Surveys; Two Year Colleges ABSTRACT Recognizing the growing population of older learners and seeking to repond to this growing student pool, in January 1989 the League for Innovation in the Community College, in conjunction with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), conducted a survey of League member institutions in an effort to identify innovations developed for senior adult services and programs. The survey results included the following: (1) the majority of older adult programs come under what is called Community Services, Adult Education, or Short Courses;(2) most colleges conduct non-credit courses with fees between $25150 per class; (3) several colleges allow "audits" of regular courses with fees waived for those over 60; (4) 50% of the League schools say they have a specialprogram and/or center for older adults at their college; (5) League schools involved in Older Adult Education employ many more part-time than full-time staff with more than 80% of those teaching classes for the older adult learner being part-timers; (6) 75% of the colleges surveyed offer non-credit classes to seniors; and (7) full-term courses are often taught to seniors for credit at off-campus sites. Following the summary of survey findings, the report provides individual descriptions of the adult centers and programs offered at 16 member institutions. Then, the report profiles 13 special program offerings, including older adult seminars and curriculum. Appended is a list of contact persons for all colleges and programs profiled. (GFW) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** \o./) LEAGLEfrINNOVATION in the Community College COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS FOR THE OLDER ADULT LEARNER "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OFEDUCATION Mice ot Educational Research end improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION R. Charles CENTER (ERIC) 0 This document has been reprOchmed as received from the person or organization C. Bar tunek It Minor changeshave been made to improve reproduction MAMMY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Points of view or opinions stated In the (Mew INFORMATION CENTER IERIC)." ment do not necessarily represent official OE PI position or policy Edited by Richard F. Charles and Carol Bartunek Foothill-Do Anza Community College District April 1989 2 REST COPY AVAILABLE Tk FOREWORD Ore of the great issues of CommuniV College Educationtoday is that of access. While many forces have historically tried to close thatdoor to allow only an elite trickle to pass through, othermore vibrant issues have spoken to responsiveness. Such an issue is that of serving the senior membersof our population. Across the nation, colleges and universitiesare discovering a new source of students. These students are different in that theyare older, more mature, have rich and vibrant life experiences andcome to the educational arena ready to grow and learn. In America today the country is experiencinga revolution of tremendous demographic proportion. The increase in medicalknowledge and the great attention to physical fitness in the general population havehelped increase the longevity of men and women and extended theretirement and productive period for all. The League for Innovation in the CommunityCollege is at the forefront of educational opportunities for olderpersons. League schools are expanding their horizons by developing innovative and comprehensiveprograms for seniors. The following report is an initial attempton the part of the League for Innovation to present the various opportunities availablefor older adult learners among member schools. Dr. Thomas H. Clements President EAGUEfrirINNOVATION Foothill College In the CommuistyCotkite April 1989 rI PREFACE The League for Innovation has placeda high priority on meeting the emerging needs of senior adults in the educational market place. According to the publication of theinstitute of lifelong learning, titled Callessfantanioradarlaunars In 1984, the Census Bureau reported 28 millionpersons 66 years of age of older.This represents 11.90 percent of the U. S. population, or aboutone in every eight Americans. This num* has increased by 2.3 millionor ten percent since 1980, compared to an increase of only four percent for the under 65 population. Assuming a retirement age of 65, senior adultscan expect to live an additional 16.8 years. By the year 2000, senior adults over 65 are expected to represent 13 percent of the population, and if current trends prevail, the only populationgroup experiencing significant increases in the next century will be more than 55years of age. The American community college has seen declining en-rollments in the numberof traditional degree-seeking students coming through its doors. College and universityenrollments in general have declined as the last of the baby boomers have completed theireducation. However, on the other end of the population equation is the increase in the senior adult population. The American community college is in a unique position to take advantage of thedemographic shift. As community-based centers the American community college is inan excellent position to develop innovative learning programs and attractever increasing numbers of senior adults to their campuses. The League for Innovation and the American Association ofRetired Persons (AARP) are currently embarking on a cooperativeprogram to share program information and review ixsues regarding senior adults in community colleges.Information from this study will hopefully provide a starting point for what types ofprograms and services are offered at League institutions and perhaps serve as an introduction to whatcan be accomplished in the future. The information on member institutionswas gathered through a survey sent out in late January of 1989. The survey asked these institutions to identify innovationsthey developed for senior adult services and programs. Our thanks to all those who contributed to this study: LeagueRepresentatives, staff members at Foothill and De Anza Colleges, Colin Bell, Institutional Researchat Foothill, Nancy Cole and Karen Webb, and staff members at the League and AARP Offices. Anadditional thank you to Dr. Thomas H. Clements, President of Foothill College, for hiscontinued support of this project, and a special thank you to all the senior adult students and staffwho helped develop this growing enterprise. Richard F. Charles & Carol Bartunek .......141...../ League Fellows LEAGUE0r1NNOVATION Foothill-De Anza Community College District m the Community Cnikge April 1989 4 Table of Contents LEAGUE SURVEY Survey of Older Adult Programs at League Colleges 1 Summary of Survey Findinp 2 Funding of Courses and Activities 3 Staffing and Personnel 4 Credit vs. NonCredit 5 Alb OLDER ADULT CENTERS AND PROGRAMS 6 Bakersfield College 7 Bakersfield, California Cuyahoga Community College 8 Warrensville Thwnship, Ohio De Anza College 9 Cupertino, California Delta College University Center, Michigan Foothill College Los Altos Hills, California Johnson County Community College 13 Overland Park, Kansas Kirkwood Community College 14 Cedar Rapids, Iowa Lane Community College 16 Eugene, Oregon Mesa Community College 17 Mesa, Arizona Monroe Community College 18 Rochester, New York Moraine Valley Community College 19 Worth, Illinois Phoenix College 20 Phoenix, Arizona Rio Salado Community College 21 Sun City, Arizona Scottsdale Community College 22 Scottsdale, Arizona St. Louis Community College at Forest Park 23 St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis Community College at Meramec 23 Kirkwood, Missouri 5 OLDER ADULT SEMINARS, CURRICULUM AND SPECIAL OFFERINGS 24 The Brown and Gold Club 25 Johnson County Community College Computer Literacy Institute 26 Rio Salado Community College Coping fildlls for Caregivers 27 Lane Community College The De Anza College ABODE Program 28 De Anza College The De Anza College Senior Workshop 29 De Anza College Getting lb Know You 30 Delta College An Invitation to the Macintosh World 31 Foothill College Never 'Ibo Late $2 Rio Salado Community College The New Mature Woman ss Rio Salado Community College REACH Program 34 Foothill College Retirement Planning 35 St. Louis Community College at Meramec Seminars for Seniors se St. LouisCommunity College at Forest Park Attracting and Keeping Older Students in Senior Computing Classes 37 Foothill College DIRECTORY Contact Persons for Older Adult Programs at League Colleges 39 6 LEAGUEPrINNOVA11ON in the Commwdty College LEAGUE SURVEY 7 , 1 LEAGUEforINNOVATION IR IhtCORINNRIV Oft SURVEY OF OLDER ADULT PROGRAMS AT LEAGUE COLLEGES In January 1989 a survey asking the followingquestions was sent to League institutions in order to identify their older adultservices