HCC's Career4U Academy named an Adult Education Innovator in Support Services for Adult Education
Sep 21, 2021
Houston Community College announced today that its Career4U Academy has been recognized as an innovative practice in adult education by the Advancing Innovation in Adult Education project, led by Manhattan Strategy Group.
The project, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), seeks to identify adult education programs that are advancing the field of adult education with their efforts to help learners develop knowledge and skills, gain secondary credentials, and transition to further education and employment.
Career4U Academy is one of nine practices selected nationally for innovative approaches modeling effective integrated education and training (IET) programs, transitioning adult learners from adult basic education to postsecondary education or training, and increasing access to adult education services. All of the nine practices are featured in a report, gallery of innovative practices, and a recorded webinar released in observance of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
“The Career4U Academy has been an incredible collaboration with both leaders across the institution and community organizations. We are honored to receive this recognition for providing adult students an innovative and holistic way to achieve integrated workforce certificates, in high growth industries,” said Dr. Christina Robinson, HCC Executive Director of Adult Education and Literacy programs.
“It is important to shine a light on innovative practices that adult education programs are using to meet the evolving needs of adult learners. The nine practices we’ll be showcasing are illustrative of the types of activities that adult education programs have implemented, using a holistic approach to carry out adult education,” said Cheryl Keenan, Director of the Division of Adult Education and Literacy, U.S. Department of Education. “The work of the staff leading these practices reinforces that adult education programs need to consider adult learners’ intellectual, social, physical, and emotional needs. So many individuals who already had barriers to employment have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic. Innovation may be more important now than ever to get people back to work and on a pathway that offers real opportunity.”
These nine programs have made advances in their support of adult learners through focusing on underserved populations, distance learning alternatives, connecting learners to community and social services, offering employment assistance, and providing access to career navigators and mentors.
To learn more about Career4U Academy visit hccs.edu/changemylife or visit hccs.edu/virtuallobby. For more information about the Advancing Innovation in Adult Education project, visit https://lincs.ed.gov/state-resources/federal-initiatives/advancing-innovation.