December 11, 2019
Story by Joe Vinduska
Photo by Brandon Steinert
An article by Barton Coordinator of Adult Education Matt Connell was recently published in “Innovation Abstracts” magazine by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD). NISOD is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges.
Connell’s article “The Need for Adult Education” discusses how the ever-changing landscape of education has created performance challenges in college settings and often times negatively affects the possibility of quality placement in the workforce, and how Barton’s Adult Education program aims to identify problem areas for students and get them on track toward a productive career.
Connell said he chose this topic to stress the importance of students taking that first step and obtaining their High School Equivalency (HSE) as it opens doors for other career options.
“Providing opportunities for students to obtain their HSE and tying them to other career technical education certifications is a relatively quick solution to provide a pathway for students to obtain meaningful, high quality and rewarding employment with a family-sustaining wage,” he said. “In today’s job market, there is a real need for quality employees with basic academic and career-focused skills. When students obtain their HSE, it allows them more swift access to these jobs.”
Executive Director of Workforce Training and Economic Development Mary Foley said Adult Education opportunities can make a huge difference for people in difficult financial situations.
“We are very proud of Matt for bringing awareness to the need for adult education services,” she said. “It is very important for those students that may have had their high school education interrupted by life events or other challenges to know that there are a variety of options available to them to gain the education that they need and help them get on a path to a better life.”
The article can be found here: https://www.nisod.org/archive_files/abstracts/pdf/XLI_46.pdf
For more information, contact Coordinator of Adult Education Matt Connell at (620) 786-7563 or connellm@bartonccc.edu.