Posted on October 9, 2007

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Atlantic Philanthropies Awards $3.2 Million to Expand Community College Opportunities for Older Americans

The American Association of Community Colleges has announced a $3.2 million grant from Atlantic Philanthropies to create or expand programs that serve Americans age fifty and older at select community colleges around the country.

The initiative is designed to help AACC member colleges expand enrollment of older students and create programs to help them succeed. The colleges, which will be selected through a competitive process, will help identify and promote best practices in serving older learners. In addition, AACC will identify fifteen colleges for specific support. Based on efforts already in place, five of the fifteen colleges will serve as mentor institutions to ten demonstration colleges. The association intends to seek additional partners to replicate the successful outcomes of this effort among other colleges in the future.

AACC's efforts follow similar actions by Civic Ventures and the MetLife Foundation, which recently announced a partnership to help ten community colleges lead a national effort to prepare baby boomers for careers in education, health care, and social services. The colleges targeted by the Atlantic Philanthropies grant will develop initiatives designed to match the experience, skills, and interests of boomers to the field with the greatest need for workers.

"While a large number of 'baby boomers' are close to retirement age, our country and our communities will benefit if these individuals stay engaged in the workforce and productive activities over the next two decades," said AACC president George Boggs. "America needs their skills and experience, and we have a clear social imperative to keep them engaged in the professional and social structure of our communities."

“New Initiative Enables Community Colleges to Expand Opportunities for Americans Over Fifty.” American Association of Community Colleges Press Release 10/03/07.

Primary Subject: Aging
Secondary Subject(s): Higher Education
Location(s): National

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