4th National Conference for Accelerated Programs Chicago. Illinois November, 2005
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Transcript of 4th National Conference for Accelerated Programs Chicago. Illinois November, 2005
Serving Underserved
Adult Learners
4th National Conference for Accelerated Programs Chicago. IllinoisNovember, 2005
Dr. Carmen L. LamboyProf. Luis ZayasDr. Luis Burgos
ObjectivesObjectives
• Discuss seven essential steps in the development and implementation of a successful program to serve underserved adults
ObjectivesObjectives
• Present the development of the Accelerated Dual Language model as a case study-– to illustrate the development of
such a program– to demonstrate the possibility of
serving the fastest growing underserved segment: Latinos
ObjectivesObjectives
• Provoke internal and external discussion of the need to develop programs to adequately serve the underserved
Who we areWho we are
Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez (SUAGM)
School for Professional Studies
Accelerated Learning Program
Dual Language Accelerated Learning
FIRST: DEFINE WHY YOU WANT TO DO IT!
• Establishes parameters for development
• Becomes a benchmark to assess how far you can go and how far you have traveled
• Financial: additional enrollments and income for the institution– Powerful incentive that opens
doors and gains allies– Usually puts a cap on how far
you can go
Reasons to serve the underserved
Reasons to serve the underserved
• Image and public relations– Powerful initial motivator– Usually provides for short-term
attention and limited scope
• Mission–Provides ample room for
comprehensive development and expansion
–Establishes connection to institutional and external reality
Reasons to serve the underserved
SUAGM: A combination of reasons provides the greater motivation
• SUAGM vision is to achieve projection beyond Puerto Rico
• Opening a center in a Latino community in the US that is mostly Puerto Rican was financially possible and sustainable
• Providing access to underserved populations has been the driving force behind SUAGM’s foundation and development
What do I do if this combination does not exist at my institution?
– Fast growth of underserved population segments creates powerful financial and public relations incentives for action
– Future growth of institutions depends on ability to attract and serve population segments that are growing
– If not in the mission…negotiate space for your own mission
•CREATE IT!
SECOND: DEFINE WHO YOU WANT TO SERVE
• Important to research the numbers, growth, composition and characteristics of the targeted population
• Gives clear focus to your efforts• Diverse population have diverse
needs– Resist the temptation to be all
things to all
• 58% increase in the Latino population in the United States (1990-2000)– Largest and fastest growing
minority group: over 40 million in 2004
– Latino population has increased over 6% in 42 states; over 21% in 26 states
– 20% of the US population will be Latino by 2020
• 40% of Latinos are first generation
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
US Bureau of the Census, 2000; Passel, 2004
• Educated bilingual professionals have more and better employment opportunities– Florida study indicates that
they make an average of $7,000 more annually
Creating Florida's Multilingual, Global Workforce, 2000UF, UM & FLDOE
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
• Latinos represent 15% of the US population-–Only 10% of university
students
US Bureau of the Census, 2000
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
• Latinos have lower success rates in the educational system:– 3 times the HS dropout rate of Anglos– 35% go on to college vs. 46%– 18% receive a bachelors vs. 37%
• Differences with first generation Latinos is significantly greater
US Bureau of the Census, 2000; Pew Hispanic Center, 2005; Fry, 2002
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
• Latino adults have significantly lower university level attainment.
46.4
60.3
10.6
28.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
High School,Some College
Bachelors orHigher
Latinos
Non- Latino
US Bureau of the Census, 2000
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
• Latino mastery of the English language affects access to higher education– 18% of US population speak a language
other than English at home• 60% of them speak Spanish
– 85% of Latinos speak Spanish at home– 14 million Latinos report that they do not
speak English “very well” (49%)
US Bureau of the Census, 2000
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
• Financing higher education becomes an access issue for Latino adults– Lower income forces adults to work
full time– Those who study must do so part
time• 51% of Latinos are part time university
students compared to 45% of non-Latinos*
*Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2005
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
• Conclusion– Latinos represent the fastest
growing and more underserved population segment in the US
– In order to increase access of Latino adults to higher education we need alternative programs that will allow for:
• Enhancing English skills• Flexible scheduling to combine work,
study and personal responsibilities
SUAGM: The definition of our target population
THIRD: LEARN ABOUT AND FROM YOUR TARGET
POPULATION
• Research projects and best and failed practices
• Listen and consider their needs and expectations
Research
• Search for information, visit or contact other institutions and projects serving your population
• Search the literature for research on current practices
• Prepare targeted feasibility, market and other studies
Learn about needs and expectations
• Meet with community, government and private sector representatives and groups
• Conduct focus groups of potential students
SUAGM: Search for best and failed practices
Bilingual education
Bilingualism
Additive Bilingualism
Subtractive Bilingualism
Dual LanguageImmersion
Transitional
1st Model 2nd Model
Bilingual Alternatives
• Dual language characteristics complements Adult Learning Principles – curriculum is content based – effective language learning is tied to
real-life goals– includes experiential or hands-on
activities– spirit of collaboration and peer
interaction
Why Dual Language and not Transitional?
SUAGM: Search for best and failed practices
• Accelerated education: successful experience as alternative to meet the need for flexibility and convenience
SUAGM: Targeted research
• Conducted feasibility study to determine overall demographic trends in the area, market need, workforce demands, and geographic distribution of target population
• Conducted market share and enrollment projection study
SUAGM: Learning from those we want to serve
• Conducted focus groups of target population– Considered differences within the
population in determining group composition: national origin, language usage, place of residence/work
SUAGM: Learning from those we want to serve
• Meetings with:– Community leaders– City, county, state and economic
development government officials– Human resource area or other
corporate representatives
SUAGM: What we learned from those we wanted to serve
• Students from our target group were most concerned about issues traditional students are concerned: accreditation, faculty, financial aid
• Learning English is high priority but they recognize the need for a facilitating environment where they can use their language
• Location is essential
FOURTH: UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS PREVENTED THE INSTITUTION FROM SERVING THIS GROUP
• Critically analyze why they are currently not being served
• Define what needs to change
Reasons for being underserved
• The politically incorrect but widely held reason…– “They can’t cut it.”– “They are not well prepared.”
• The more likely but hard to accept reason…– The institution does not offer the
programs and services they need– The institution is not well-prepared to
attract, retain and serve the needs of the group
The need for change
• Most involved in developing programs for adults have lived this need– Similar process must occur for
each group you want to serve well
The need for change
• Institutions need to examine how current programs, services, attitudes and image impacts their ability to serve new populations
• If it is not reasonable to expect the institution to change-– Create an institutional space where
change is allowed and possible
SUAGM: What we changed…
• Neither our programs in Spanish nor our programs in English served the needs of our target population
• The way things are done and work well in Puerto Rico are not necessarily the same in central Florida– Always ask: Do we need to adapt?
What?
• The priorities of the community we serve are different
SUAGM: What we changed…
• We had to learn to understand, respect and serve diversity-– within our Latino community: national
origin, language usage– within racially and ethnically diverse
community
• Our centers needed greater academic and administrative autonomy to identify and respond to these changes: Branch Campus
FIFTH: DESIGN A PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE NEED AND OPENS THE
DOORS TO THE UNDERSERVED
• Key Components
• SUAGM’s model
Key components of the design
• Academic program and support services that meet the needs of the target population
• A business plan that realistically & strategically estimates program income and costs as well as benefits to the rest of the academic community
Our Model
Dual Language Discipline Based Immersion Program
Our Mission - Our Model
Fluency•Social•Personal
Professional
Proficiency
Use of both languages and both cultures for professional proficiency.
L2L1
Definition
• A Dual Language Professional is one who demonstrates professional competencies, confidently, in their field of study in Spanish and English.
Confidently
Conceptual Interpersonal Communication
Professional Competencies
SKILLS
Language
Conceptual Skills #1 Generate ideas
A DLP will generate
ideas in order to
solve problems
effectively
After analyzing two classroom situations- one in
English and one in Spanish- the students will
develop strategies and action plans in the corresponding language
MA ESOL – Generate Ideas
Five Basic Elements
I. Development of both I. Development of both languages through courseworklanguages through courseworkI. Development of both I. Development of both languages through courseworklanguages through coursework
• Undergraduate requirements of 12 credits both
languages
• Four-level language development sequence:
– Immersion (Non-credit): little or no language skills
– Developmental (Credit, not required): language
skills not at college level
– First year (Credit, required): first year college
requirement
– Second year (Credit, required): reading and
writing skills needed by the dual language
professional
English:Accuplacer (College Board): selection of
items targeted to model’s language curriculum
II. Placement testing - Computerized testing for immediate grading and data collection
II. Spanish: SUAGM Placement test for native speakers
S-CAPE for Spanish as a Second Language Speakers
III. Use of both languages in all content coursesIII. Use of both languages in all content courses
• Strictly follow 50/50 formula
• Modules
– Specify language to be used in each
workshop, assignments and
evaluations
– General information in both
languages
– Workshops in the language that will
be used in that workshop
III. Use of both languages in all content coursesIII. Use of both languages in all content courses• Faculty MUST use Monolingual
Delivery
• “Sheltered environment” for students
– May ask questions in language of
choice but will get answers in
workshop language
– Assignments and evaluations MUST
be in the language specified
IV. Computerized language lab for skill developmentIV. Computerized language lab for skill development
• Open lab for language and basic
skills development
• Faculty may arrange to bring their
classes
• Exercises developed in-house
complemented by other software
V. Bilingual faculty and staffV. Bilingual faculty and staff
• Staff speaks, reads and writes both
languages
• All faculty is bilingual, including those
teaching language courses
• Faculty and staff model a dual language
professional and provide “sheltered
environment”
• Continuous Professional Development
SIXTH: IMPLEMENT YOUR DESIGN WITH COMMITMENT, HARD WORK
AND OPEN MINDS AND EARS
• The start-up of a new and different program always entails going the extra mile
• Commitment becomes the real motivator
• Essential to include mechanisms for assessment and feedback from the beginning
Activities, Accomplishments and Lessons Learned
The Orlando Experience
Metro Orlando University Center (MOUC)
• Accelerated Dual Language studies for adults– Associate Degrees (2)– Bachelor Degrees (12)– Masters Degrees(5)
• Enrollment growth – 152 - Academic year 2003– 641 – Academic year 2005
Student Profile• Female (78%)• Age: 25-29 yrs. (26%) 40 > (23%) Average: 33 yrs. old• Family Size: 2-3 members (52%)• Single (57%)• Family Income: $25,000> (68%) Average: $47,629
Metro Orlando University Center (MOUC)
• Faculty– 121 Certified bilingual facilitators– 80 certified as Module Preparation
Specialists– Professional Development 2003-
2005:• 52 sessions• 1167 attendees
• 301 bilingual modules
Assessment Components
• Student Representative Meetings• End of Course Evaluations• External Peer Reviews• Language Placement Testing and Post-
testing • Student Achievement of Program
Objectives (Midpoint and Capstone Courses)
• Continuous Assessment of Program Activities (Evaluation of Staff and Faculty Development)
• Evaluation of Student Portfolios
End-Of Course Evaluations
• Student Satisfaction Survey• Completed every 5 weeks • Scale:
– A Totally Agree– B Agree– C Partially Agree– D Disagree– F Totally Disagree
• Reported in percentages
5561
2526
128
4 3 4 20
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
A B C D F
MODULES
RESOURCES
Instructional Resources
8795 94
93
32 1 1 1 0 0
1 1 2
0102030405060708090
100
A B C D F
ClassManagement
GroupInteractions
StudentEvaluation
Faculty and Classroom
11
59
84
A
B
C
D
F
Facilities
111
7
90
A
B
C
D
F
Self-Evaluation Language Confidence
32 Graduates – June 200532 Graduates – June 2005
SEVENTH: DO NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL OR GO AT IT
ALONE: PARTNER!• With other institutions and
community• Pool resources and experiences• Learn from others who have been
successful
What is AGMUS Ventures?
WHO ARE WE?WHAT DO WE DO?
What is AGMUS Ventures?
What is AGMUS Ventures?
• Joint venture of Ana G. Méndez University System (Puerto Rico) and Regis University (Colorado)
• AGMUS Ventures created to develop educational services and products with four key characteristics:– Accelerated
– Bilingual
– Adult focused
– Targeted to Latino markets: Latino-US and Latin America
Services and productsServices and products
• Develop new sites for implementation of dual language education model
• Provide administrative services for institutions wanting to develop this model at their sites
• Offer licensing and consulting agreements for model implementation: feasibility studies, marketing, staff and faculty development, others
• Develop materials needed for implementation of the model
Contact InfoContact Info
Carmen Lamboy, [email protected] Luis Zayas, [email protected] Burgos, [email protected]