Creating Institutional Change to Support

Adult Learner Success

A Planning Workshop (via Zoom)

Thursdays, November 20 and December 4, from 3:00–5:00 pm Eastern

Registration Deadline: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025

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The Yes We Must Coalition is offering a two-session workshop for college/university teams on Thursdays, November 20 and December 4 from 3:00–5:00 pm Eastern. The workshop will be led by Dr. Sachiko Oates and Dr. Jessica Mason, researchers with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), whose research related to understanding postsecondary (re)enrollment decisions for adult learners of color has recently been published and provided as online resources. This workshop is intended for cross-campus teams of at least 2 people to examine current institutional policies, practices, and programs and to develop strategies to boost adult learner enrollment, access, and degree completion.

To advance equitable postsecondary outcomes, higher education institutions must adopt intentional strategies that address the unique barriers adult learners face. These learners, particularly those from low-income communities, often navigate complex life circumstances, including financial constraints, family responsibilities, and limited access to clear, actionable information about college pathways. AIR’s research demonstrates that adult learners’ decisions to (re)enroll are not made in isolation. Family, community, and workplace networks play an important role in shaping their choices, as do institutional signals that adult learners belong in college and can make education work with their lives. Institutional practices that align with the realities of learners’ lives, recognize prior learning, and provide targeted supports, such as tailored advising and financial aid navigation, are a key part of better supporting adult learners and advancing equitable outcomes.

What Is Involved?

The workshop will consist of two 2-hour virtual gatherings in Zoom on Thursdays, November 20 and December 4 from 3:00–5:00 pm ET. Campus teams will complete a pre-workshop exercise and a team assignment in between sessions.

Who Should Attend?

Teams from all Yes We Must Coalition member schools and other colleges/universities who share our commitment to increasing the success of students from low-income backgrounds are invited. The workshop content and activities are relevant whether participants serve a high percentage of adult students currently or desire to expand enrollment of adult learners and enhance their success. Campus teams will participate together in the workshop sessions and develop an action-oriented plan for their campus.

Teams must consist of at least 2 members. Suggested team members include enrollment/admissions leaders and staff, Academic Affairs and Student Life administrators and staff, and Institutional Research staff; however, all administrators, staff, and faculty are welcome to participate as part of a campus team.

Campus Team Outcomes:

• Gain a better understanding of the profile of adult learners and their college decision-making.
• Gain a better understanding of current re-enrollment and completion strategies that address students’ needs and institutional barriers.
• Develop deeper insights into learners’ strengths and those of their communities and identify effective strategies to support and enhance these assets at the institutional level.
• Begin development of an action plan for (re)enrolling and supporting adult learners.
• Meet colleagues at Yes We Must Coalition member schools and others who share common goals and contexts for advancing access and degree completion of adult learners and stimulate collaborative work on strategic policies and practices.
• Leave with an invitation to participate in a post-meeting virtual Community of Practice to assist one another with plan implementation.

How to Register and Cost for Participating

Cost for a Campus Team of at least 2 and up to 4 members is $400 for Yes We Must Coalition institutional members; cost for a team from non-YWMC institutions is $550. For teams larger than 4, additional members may join at a cost of $75 per additional member. Team registration deadline is Friday, November 14. To register, one college/university representative should complete the online Registration Form below, providing names, titles/roles, and email contacts for team participants. Payment must be made by credit card at time of registration through the payment link at the bottom of the online form. Registrants will be sent links to the Zoom workshop sessions as well as the pre-workshop exercise to complete and return.

Workshop Leaders

Jessica Mason is a senior researcher at the American Institutes for Research (AIR), where she leads studies focused on postsecondary access, student success, and institutional transformation. Her work centers on adult learners, including student veterans and those from low-income communities, and explores strategies that support reenrollment and persistence. Jessica specializes in mixed-methods research and translating findings into actionable insights for educators, institutions, and policymakers. She holds a PhD in Social and Comparative Analysis in Education and an MA in International Education.

Sachiko Oates is a former adult learner, faculty member, and administrator at a California community college and brings a practice-informed perspective on institutional transformations that shape college access. At the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Sachiko leads and supports projects in postsecondary and adult education, including qualitative and mixed-methods research and educator training facilitation. Sachiko holds an EdD in Educational Leadership and a Master of Science in Education.

For Questions

Contact Ann Landis, Program Manager at the Yes We Must Coalition,
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Campus Team Registration Form

Please provide the following information for campus team participants.
(Payment must be made at time of registration through the payment link below the registration form. Please fill out and submit the form below first.)

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