Strada collaborates with students, policymakers, educators, and employers across the U.S. to strengthen the link between education and opportunity.
We prioritize policies, practices, and programs that help ensure postsecondary education provides equitable pathways to opportunity.
We advance our mission through research, grantmaking, social impact investments, public policy solutions, Strada-supported nonprofit organizations, and strategic initiatives.
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CHICAGO – The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), a national nonprofit working at the intersection of education and employment, has joined Strada Education Network’s growing family of organizations working to improve student success and strengthen college-to-career pathways. Other network members include InsideTrack, Roadtrip Nation, College Confidential, DXtera Institute, Education at Work and Student Connections.
“This partnership is about increasing equitable access to higher education and careers, increasing completion of credentials, and improving career prospects for underserved populations, including the more than 80 million U.S. adults who have a high school diploma but lack a postsecondary degree,” said CAEL President and CEO Pamela Tate. “Our affiliation with Strada will enable us to have even greater impact on our mission to link learning and work for every adult.”
As a growing number of employers demand post-secondary credentials as evidence of skills and knowledge required to succeed in today’s labor market, access to higher education opportunities has become a top national priority for educators, employers and community leaders alike. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly 40 percent of degree-seeking students are 25 or older.
With a 43-year history of successful partnerships with employers, education institutions, workforce and economic development leaders, CAEL brings deep expertise and unique capacity to support adult and working learners on their path to and through higher education as well as to meet the critical talent needs of employers.
As part of Strada Education Network, CAEL will continue to offer valued solutions and services across the education-to-workforce pipeline, including:
CAEL will continue to engage the wide range of partners and funders who share CAEL’s commitment to these efforts and provide support to make these programs possible.
Through its affiliation with Strada, CAEL will have access to additional research and insights to benefit its work on behalf of members and partners, increased support for innovation and technology-enabled solutions, and enhanced operational capacity through shared administrative services provided by Strada that will help CAEL scale and sustain its mission impact.
“As higher education becomes a prerequisite for success in our dynamic modern economy, addressing the needs of working adults is both a moral and economic imperative,” said William D. Hansen, President and CEO of Strada Education Network and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education. “We welcome CAEL’s talented team of experts to our network bringing decades of experience, collaborating with employers, individuals, and communities to unlock the promise of higher education.”
Founded in 1974, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Chicago that assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to help them earn college credit for learning acquired through life and work experiences toward the completion of a postsecondary degree. CAEL works with the public sector, private sector industries and higher education institutions to ensure that adult students receive the most efficient training and education to occupy a meaningful professional place in a 21st century economy. For more information, visit www.cael.org or follow us on Twitter @CAELNews.
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