The San Diego & Imperial Center of Excellence and the San Diego & Imperial Regional Consortium are continuing preparations for the Adult Learner Success Initiative, a regional professional development effort beginning this fall to help colleges better serve working adults and students facing barriers to success.

As part of this work, Calbright College will serve as a research partner, contributing statewide data and insights related to adult learner success, basic needs and work-based learning. Recent Calbright research partnerships have explored how behavioral science can improve access and outcomes for working adults, as well as the importance of simplifying enrollment processes, addressing basic needs, such as childcare and technology access, and expanding real-world opportunities for students to build career skills in high-growth sectors.

The initiative will bring together community colleges across the region to identify institutional barriers, share evidence-based strategies, and develop action plans that support greater enrollment, persistence, and completion among adult learners — students age 25 and older, balancing college with work, family, and other responsibilities. It will begin with a regional kick-off summit in the fall, followed by monthly facilitated meetings and a Spring 2027 leadership convening to share findings, best practices and lessons learned.

Learn more here.