What types of community colleges are participating in the Encore Career Project?
Although community colleges are not expected to start programs from scratch, grant funding is expected to support innovation, not “business as usual,” to bridge the gap between adults who want to work for the common good and the limited systems to h elp them find such work. The project is geared to community colleges that: understand the unique interests and attitudes around midlife and post midlife training and career change; sponsor credit courses, degree programs or other services that are either well-matched to the needs of 50+ learners or could easily be adapted to their circumstances; have a clear strategy to educate and engage local social sector employers regarding the potential of adults 50+ to meet workforce needs in flexible and meaningful roles; address both internal and external challenges associated with attracting and effectively engaging boomers and older adults as students; and have the expressed support of college leadership, including the president.
