HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — Dec. 10, 2013 — The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning recently recognized a 51社区 professor for her efforts to improve adult education.
Rene茅 Dauer, assistant professor of organizational leadership and director of continuing studies at 51社区 Hendersonville, was selected as the 2013 LearningCounts Ambassador for helping implement CAEL鈥檚 LearningCounts program at Union.
鈥淚 feel that I accepted this award on behalf of our entire team in the department of continuing studies at Union,鈥� Dauer said. 鈥淭hrough our team鈥檚 effort and the support of our leadership at Union, we were able to partner with CAEL and LearningCounts to expand the opportunities for our adult students.鈥�
LearningCounts is an online course through CAEL鈥檚 Prior Learning Assessment program that helps adult students create learning portfolios for college credit, Dauer said.
Through this course, adult students are taught how to assemble portfolios that provide documentation to show how they learned course material through nontraditional learning experiences. As a result, they have the chance to earn college credit for knowledge gained outside the classroom through means such as work experience, professional and military training and online learning.
鈥淥nce the course is completed, the student has the opportunity to submit his or her portfolio to LearningCounts for evaluation by a subject-matter expert to determine if it is worthy of college credit,鈥� Dauer said.
She said that Union鈥檚 continuing studies department is committed to enhancing the learning opportunities for adult students.
鈥淚 think this award honors the work that we do in our adult programs at Union,鈥� Dauer said. 鈥淚t also affirms Union鈥檚 commitment to providing top-tier academics to nontraditional students and distinguishes our institution as a progressive leader in adult education.鈥�