The CAEL Conference, last held in November 2020, is widely known as the leading place to support adult learners through PLA and Credit for Prior Learning advancement. But it's also a place where leaders across the work-learn-earn spectrum make necessary connections between education and career success to generate the powerful ideas that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth to transform individuals and help communities thrive.

Please join us in November of 2021 for the 47th CAEL Conference at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.

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Meet our keynote speakers

Get inspired to innovate.

HEATHER MCGOWAN

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, CENTRE FOR THE NEW WORKFORCE AT SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

“The coronavirus has acted as an accelerant in our transformation to digital. Within two weeks of the World Health Organization declaring this a global pandemic, entire companies transitioned to distributed workforces while full school systems from K-12 through higher ed and learning and development organizations converted to online learning. This is incredible adaptation at scale showing us a glimmer of what we are capable of doing.”

SARAH ANCEL

FOUNDER AND CEO AT STUDENT-READY STRATEGIES

“As a result of the global pandemic, millions of adults are finding themselves unemployed or underemployed. Many of them will turn to higher education as a path to a credential and better job opportunities, and it’s imperative that institutions are ready to support them. I’m excited to share strategies that will help colleges and universities put needed structures in place, making it possible for more adult learners to meet their academic goals and get back into the workforce.”

SHANIKA HOPE

HEAD, AMAZON FUTURE ENGINEER, US

“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”
Albert Einstein

ANDRE BENNIN (WGU/NewU Ventures), DARA WARN (Penn Foster), SCOTT FLEMING (Strada Education Network), LOU PUGLIESE, and KIP WRIGHT (Genuent)

COVID has amplified workers' need to continuously upskill themselves to prepare for the future of work and learners' need to map training and coursework to in-demand skills for growing careers. Join us to hear from experts on how learning providers, employers, technology, and data can work together to meet the evolving needs of learners and workers in the COVID era.

Featured talks

Not sure what to watch? Here are some talks you won't want to miss.

Bethany Simunich Director of Research and Innovation, Quality Matters

How the Online Classroom is Different*
Munir Haddad Founder & CEO, Kiosk

Marketing Strategies: Attracting Adult Learners*
Isaac Moche Senior Manager, Academy Programs, HubSpot

Marketing Strategies: The state of credentialing in higher education and industry, and how the two sides can work together*
Munir Haddad & Neelam Patel

Marketing Strategies: Using product differentiation and social media to enhance your outreach*
Bethany Simunich Director of Research and Innovation, Quality Matters

Using the Flipped Approach for Synchronous Online Learning*
Rob Sentz Chief Innovation Officer, Emsi

Improving Programs with Labor Market Data: How labor market data can improve student outcomes*
Charla Long Executive Director, Competency-Based Education Network

Built Competently: Leveraging Quality Standards in Competency-Based Education (CBE) Programs*
Alex Morrison Interim President, CAEL

CAEL's Welcome Address
Heather McGowan Adjunct Professor, Centre for the New Workforce at Swinburne University of Technology

Adaption Advantage: Leading in a Post Pandemic World
Heather McGowan Adjunct Professor, Centre for the New Workforce at Swinburne University of Technology

Q&A with Heather McGowan*
Chantel Reynolds Regional Manager, Higher Education, Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge International AS and A Level Examinations: A “New” Option for Credit for Prior Learning
Scott Campbell & Kristen Himmerick

PLA on a Shoestring
Lisa McIntyre-Hite Senior Principal, Guild Education

Working Adult Learner Support
Tammy Shelton Vice President, Capital Education

CapEd Consultative Approach to Re-Imagining Online Learning
Andre Bennin, Scott Fleming, Lou Pugliese, Dara Warn &...

A New Learning Ecosystem for the COVID Era
Laurie Pulido CEO, Ease Learning

Using Learning Design to Reimagine the Student Experience
Barry Nickerson & Beth Tankersley-Bankhead PhD

Regional Campus Collaboration to Nurture an Adult Friendly Campus Experience
Chantel Reynolds Regional Manager, Higher Education, Cambridge Assessment International Education

Texas Two-Year College Faculty Perceptions of Prior Learning Assessment
Christine Carpenter & Jeannie McCarron

New to CAEL Membership? Learn More
Sarah Ancel Founder & CEO, Student-Ready Strategies, LLC

From Crisis to Catalyst: Accelerating Student-Ready Transformation in Turbulent Times
Sarah Ancel Founder & CEO, Student-Ready Strategies, LLC

Q&A with Sarah Ancel*
Dana Ague, Marcia Anderson, Peace Bransberger, Veella...

Making the Most of the PLA Boost. Now that we have the new research findings on PLA, how can we make the most of them?
Scott Campbell, Royce Ann Collins & Jenny Frenzel

Covid Wisdom - Adult Learners reflect on going to school during the Covid Pandemic
Scott Jones, Dawn Lang & John McDonald

The Growth of Technology and Preparing the Workforce of the Future
Jeannie McCarron Director, Member Engagement, CAEL

8-week and other Accelerated Formats for Adults: Why this format has become more critical, especially now
Chantel Reynolds & Rose Rojas

Building Bridges Using PLA
Lendl Meyer Product Manager, Emsi

Mapping Curriculum to the Language of the Labor Market: Why Skills Matter in Higher Education
Scott Fleming & Marc Austin

Strengthening Institution and Employer Partnerships for the Betterment of Employees
Shanika Hope Head, Amazon Future Engineer, US, Amazon

Preparing Students for the Future of Work
Shanika Hope Head, Amazon Future Engineer, US, Amazon

Q&A with Shanika Hope*
Amrit Ahluwalia Managing Editor, The EvoLLLution

Continuing Education’s Role in Defining Higher Ed’s New Normal
Leslie Jones, Gerardo Moreno, Rafael Pasillas, Eyra...

Latino Adult Student Success Academy: Driving opportunities to support enrollment, persistence, and completion of adult Latino students
Chris Freire CEO, Student Opportunity Center (SOC)

Virtual Project-Based Experiential Learning for Adult Learners
Cece Carey-Snow Strategic Communications Manager, uConnect

Why Attracting and Retaining Adult Learners Starts with Exceptional Career Services
Jonathan Caines Co-Founder/Chief Creator of Opportunity, Max-Grad

Recruiting, Reengaging and Reenrolling Stopped-Out Students Amidst COVID-19
Holly Custard Ph.D., Melissa Leavitt Ph.D. & Janet Salm

Accelerating change: How listening to adult learners can supercharge your efforts to achieve more equitable outcomes
Amy Smith & Burck Smith

Model Pathways: Lessons Learned from an Online Workforce Associate Degree
Patti Constantakis, Kai Drekmeier, Rebecca Hanson,...

The Positive Impact of Employer Education Benefit Programs

Calling for a global convening of leaders, experts and changemakers

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the CAEL Conference has been reimagined as a virtual event, free to all CAEL members. We'll gather as one community, risk-free, to chart the course to recovery where every adult has a pathway to lifelong learning and meaningful work.

View the schedule

5 days

153 speakers

11 tracks

Learn from amazing companies like these

Accelerating change: How listening to adult learners can supercharge your efforts to achieve more equitable outcomes November 06, 2020, 07:40 PM

Holly Custard Ph.D., Melissa Leavitt Ph.D. & Janet Salm

Built Competently: Leveraging Quality Standards in Competency-Based Education (CBE) Programs* November 03, 2020, 07:30 PM

Charla Long Executive Director, Competency-Based Education Network

Adaption Advantage: Leading in a Post Pandemic World November 04, 2020, 05:00 PM

Heather McGowan Adjunct Professor, Centre for the New Workforce at Swinburne University of Technology

Advancing our nation's nursing profession through education and leadership partnerships November 05, 2020, 09:30 PM

Laurie Benson & Jennifer Hoff Nurses on Boards Coalition & Strategic Education, Inc.

With more than 150 experts, the strategies you need are just a click away

You’ll have the opportunity to engage with our experts who will be sharing their years of knowledge, strategies, and tactics. If you’re focused on implementing change, we've got you covered.

Meet the speakers

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Here's what others are saying

Tracy Robinson Director, Innovative Academic Initiatives, The University of Memphis

The benefits that I receive from our CAEL membership and from attending CAEL conferences are beyond compare. Whether it is a small scale pilot project or a...
Devin Andrews MAED Vice President, Office of Admissions & Evaluation

The CAEL Conference is one of the best knowledge sharing and networking events for those who serve adult learners. I returned recharged with valuable...
Evelyn Fernandez-Ketcham Executive Director, Workforce Development

The CAEL conference convenes forward thinking professionals in higher education and workforce development. A must attend conference for participants...
Michael Heel Director of Interdisciplinary Academic Support

As a newcomer to the CAEL conference last year, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the many varied opportunities available for networking and...
Nayshon Mosley Executive Director, TRIO Programs

COVID-19 makes CAEL's mission to provide adults with a pathway to lifelong learning and meaningful work more critical than ever before. I first attended the...

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