Shift Happens

Adult Learner Institute hosts virtual conference in late May 2021

The Adult Learner Institute hosted Shift Happens: Learning Across a Lifespan, a virtual conference, via Zoom May 26–27, 2021. The conference was charged with examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult learners. More than 300 people participated in the conference.

While the majority of attendees were from Minnesota State institutions, other Minnesota colleges, universities, and partners were represented. Attendees from other states, including Colorado, Texas and Pennsylvania, also took part.

Keynote presenters included Rovy Branon, Continuum College vice provost, Teri Lyn Hinds, Minnesota State senior director of strategic initiatives–Equity 2030, and Donte Curtis, Catch Your Dream Consulting owner and lead consultant, as well as a student panel entitled The Reality of Shift Happening.

More about Shift Happens…

Questions addressed during the conference included:
  • How do we acknowledge the changes that our learners are going through?
  • What challenges and inequities do our students face?
  • What was exacerbated by the pandemic?
  • How did you shift?
  • How do you look at your work differently?
  • Which policies and practices did you put in place to meet the shift?
  • How do you innovate for when Shift Happens?
More than 25 breakout sessions were offered with topics covering several tracks, including:
  • Serving Students as They Shift
  • Providing Nontraditional Populations with Credit for Prior Learning and Adult-based Programs
  • Collaborating with External Partners: Workforce, Adult Basic Education, Community-Based Organizations
  • Teaching and Learning with the Adult Student
  • Enveloping the Work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Pivoting with Corrections and Reentry Programs
  • Leaning into the Needs of Veterans

Participants learned from experts and each other how to best serve adult learners. They explored proven methods to increase access, facilitate success, and remove barriers to help students achieve their academic and career goals.



Keynotes & breakout sessions

Video replays, slideshows, chat discussions, presentation handouts

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Keynote: Rovy Branon

“Rethinking Higher Education Across a 60 Year Curriculum”

Video Replay


Breakout sessions 1

“Working Better Together: Leveraging Career Center Partnerships for Equitable Outcomes”

Video Replay


“Military transcript…Now what? And how can I use the NEW ACE Military Guide to help me in making course equivalencies?”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow


“Growing Connections During Social Isolation”

Video Replay


“Focusing on the Future: More of a Look in the Mirror than a Crystal Ball”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow

Chat Discussion


“Sustaining Student Success During a Global Crisis: HyFlex Delivery Model”

Video Replay


“Returning Adult Students: What You Need to Know”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow


Break out sessions 2

“Earning Penn State Credit for Military training”

Video Replay

Presentation Handout


“The Open University: Inclusive College in Prison during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Video Replay


“The Inner Workings of the Education Justice Project”

Video Replay


“MN Reconnect Program—Supporting Returning Adult Learners”

Video Replay


“How to Modify a Program to Increase Adult Success:  Course Scheduling and CPL”

Video Replay


“Using MCIS for Online Career Exploration and Planning”

Download Slideshow


Student Panel

“The Reality of Shift Happening”

Video Replay

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Keynote: Equity 2030: Terry Lyn Hinds

“Why Adult Learners Are Essential in Meeting Our Equity 2030 Goal”

Video Replay


Breakout Sessions 3

“Adult Immigrants’ Experiences as Knowledge – a Path to College Level Credit”

Video Replay


“Cycle of Course Design”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow


“The Lived Experiences of Adult Learners in an Individualized Program: Empowerment, Responsibility, Tensions, and Anxiety”

Video Replay


“Adult Learners and Guided Self-Placement: Empowering Students to Succeed”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow


“Prior Learning Assessment: Understanding the Barriers and Their Impact on Program Implementation and Success”

Video Replay


Breakout Sessions 4

“Helping Post-Pandemic Adult Learners to Skill Up ”

Video Replay


“Math Foundations Collaboration – a Partnership between North Hennepin Community College and Osseo ABE”

Video Replay


“We are Family: Creating a Culture which Educates, Embraces, and Affirms All Learners”

Video Replay


“DCTC Customized Training and the Variety of Students We Serve”

Video Replay


“Art Gives Voice to Incarcerated Artists”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow


“Attract, Recruit, Retain, and Complete (ARRC) – Solutions for the Adult Learner Journey”

View Slideshow


Breakout Sessions 5

“Over The River & Through The Hood – Connecting Research And Community On My Block”

Video Replay

Download Powerpoint Presentation


“Attending College While in Jail”

Video Replay


“Diversity Credit-Earning Opportunities”

Video Replay


“Shifting to a High Impact Online Orientation”

Video Replay

Download Slideshow


“Connecting Your Learning Objectives to Community Needs: Using Community-based Learning in Your Classes”

Video Replay


“Gateway Mastery: Redesign for Improved Success in Online Courses”

Video Replay


Closing Keynote: Donte Curtis

“Shifting from Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) to Being Anti-Racist”

Video Replay

Adult Learner Institute Shift Happens Committee members

Brenda Lyseng
Title III Grant Project Director
Monica Ibarra
Title III Grant Coordinator
Aria Kronebusch
Title III Grant Coordinator
Kendrah Pearson
Inver Hills/DCTC Credit for Prior Learning Director
Jan Austad
Inver Hills Associate Dean of Career Programs
Nicki Bottko
Inver Hills Associate Director of Student Life
Mary Beth Lakin
Metro State CPLAN Director
Jess Niebuhr
Minnesota State Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships and “All Learning Counts” Director
Shelly Auldrich
Minnesota State MN Reconnect Program Manager
Eva Scates-Winston
Minnesota State Career and Technical Education Equity Specialist
Gina Sobania
Minnesota State Director of Military, Veteran, and Adult Learner Services

Learn more about the Adult Learner Institute by contacting:

Brenda Lyseng
Title III Project Director
651-450-3627