Latino and Adult Student Success Academy 2022-2024 - Diving Deeper on Institutional Change for Measurable Impact

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Callum

Multi-year CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) initiative supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions to improve outcomes for adult and Latino adult learners. Phase two (2022-2024) worked with four Texas institutions—Austin Community College, South Texas College, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley—aligned to Texas priorities for adult attainment. The report details the LASS Academy model, including identifying priorities, delivering technical assistance, collecting and analyzing data, and peer learning, then presents institution case studies and outcomes across enrollment, retention, advising/coaching, and credit for prior learning.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

Background

The Latino and Adult Student Success (LASS) Academy Model

Alignment With Texas State Higher Education Priorities

Case Studies of the Institutional Approaches

Increasing Enrollment Through Targeted Marketing and Recruitment

Improving Retention Through Advising and Personalized Coaching

Accelerating Degree Completion by Expanding and Improving Opportunities for Credit for Prior Learning

Insights from the Initiative for Serving Adult and Latino Adult Learners

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

References

Latino and Adult Student Success Academy 2022-2024 Diving Deeper on Institutional Change for Measurable Impact August 2024 | Bethany Lewis and Daniel Rossman, Ithaka S+R Rafael Pasillas and Rebecca Klein-Collins, CAEL [cael.org](cael.org) © 2024 The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) . All rights reserved. 08/24 Table of Contents Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… i Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Background ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 The Latino and Adult Student Success (LASS) Academy Model ……………………………………… 3 Alignment With Texas State Higher Education Priorities………………………………………………… 6 Case Studies of the Institutional Approaches ……………………………………………………………………… 7 Increasing Enrollment Through Targeted Marketing and Recruitment ………………………… 7 Improving Retention Through Advising and Personalized Coaching………………………………11 Accelerating Degree Completion by Expanding and Improving Opportunities for Credit for Prior Learning……………………………………………………………………………………………15 Insights from the Initiative for Serving Adult and Latino Adult Learners………………………………19 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………23 Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………24 References ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………25 LASS Academy 2022-2024 Diving Deeper on Institutional Change for Measurable Impact [cael.org](cael.org) b LASS Academy 2022-2024 Diving Deeper on Institutional Change for Measurable Impact Executive [Summary](Summary cael.org)[ cael.org](Summary cael.org) The Latino and Adult Student Success (LASS) Academy is a multi-year initiative administered by CAEL (the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) focused on supporting HispanicServing Institutions (HSIs) in their efforts to improve outcomes for adult and Latino adult learners. In its first phase, from 2018 through 2021, the LASS Academy supported fifteen postsecondary initiatives across the country. In the second phase, from 2022 through 2024, the LASS Academy continued its work with four Texas institutions: Austin Community College (ACC), South Texas College (STC), Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) . The goals of the second LASS Academy aligned with the higher education priorities of Texas, which emphasize increasing postsecondary attainment for adult learners. For instance, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) strategic plan highlights the need to equip adult learners with the skills demanded by the workforce. The second LASS Academy was supported by Greater Texas Foundation and Strada Education Foundation, and evaluated by Ithaka S+R. THE LASS ACADEMY MODEL The LASS Academy model facilitates institutional change through four key activities: The LASS Academy identify key priorities and action steps; provide technical assistance; collect, analyze, model facilitates and report data; and facilitate peer-to-peer learning. The institutions participating institutional change in the most recent LASS Academy received guidance from CAEL and three partner through four key organizations (InsideTrack, CollegeAPP, and Excelencia in Education), insights into the activities: identify key needs of adult learners through the administration of CAEL’s Adult Learner 360 priorities and action (AL 360) surveys, and the opportunity to learn from their peers through virtual steps; provide technical and in-person convenings. assistance; collect, analyze, and report data; and facilitate 1 2 3 4 peer-to-peer learning. i PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS’ FOCUS AREAS AND OUTCOMES The four participating institutions identified strategic focus areas to work on during the grant period, depending on the specific needs identified through the examination of their own data. These focus areas were largely an extension of those that the instit

FAQs

What is the purpose of the LASS Academy 2022-2024 initiative?

It is a multi-year effort administered by CAEL to support Hispanic-Serving Institutions in improving outcomes for adult and Latino adult learners through institutional change.

Which Texas institutions participated in the second phase (2022-2024)?

Austin Community College (ACC), South Texas College (STC), Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).

How did participating institutions target enrollment, retention, and degree completion?

The report highlights targeted marketing and recruitment to increase enrollment, advising and personalized coaching to improve retention, and expanding opportunities for credit for prior learning (CPL) to accelerate degree completion.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Callum