Empowering Adult Learners Through Innovation, Access, and Opportunity

The Center for Academic Innovation is dedicated to transforming higher education to better serve adult learners, particularly those returning to college after a break. We work with colleges, universities, and statewide systems to expand access to Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), streamline degree pathways, and build institutional capacity to support nontraditional students. Through consulting, training, and resource development, we help institutions implement proven strategies that recognize the value of real-world experience, reduce time to degree, and close equity gaps for working adults.

In addition to our institutional work, the Center supports learners directly through scholarships, micro-grants, and practical tools that make the return to education more achievable. We elevate the voices of adult learners, advance data-informed policy and practice, and build collaborative networks of educators, innovators, and advocates. By focusing on both system-level change and individual student success, we aim to create a more inclusive, flexible, and responsive higher education landscape.