Building on its commitment to reshaping postsecondary possibilities for adult learners, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research (Belk Center) at NC State University has launched the Adult Learner Lab (ALL) Designed as a hub for innovation, the ALL bridges rigorous research and practitioner collaboration to help postsecondary institutions across North Carolina and the nation accelerate strategies that increase access, shorten time-to-credential and foster economic mobility for adult learners.

The launch comes at a pivotal moment as higher education navigates shifting demographics, evolving workforce needs and state policy developments. Rooted in campus realities, the ALL serves as a model and partner – working alongside colleges, funders and state agencies to redesign public messaging, partnerships, processes, pathways and proximity so adult learners earn credentials of value and receive the personalized support they deserve from enrollment to completion.

“The Belk Center is excited to launch the Adult Learner Lab,” says AJ Jaeger, executive director of the Belk Center. “Adult learners are essential to the strength of our communities and our workforce, yet postsecondary systems aren’t always designed with their lives in mind. By advancing evidence, improving lives and advocating for adult learners, the ALL will partner directly with colleges, funders and state agencies to create environments where adult learners build futures that work for them.”

Three Commitments to Drive Scalable, Sustainable Change

To guide its research, projects and partnerships, the ALL is anchored in three core commitments aimed at addressing the unique challenges adult students face:

• Reducing Time to Credential: Elevating strategies that shorten the path to graduation, such as expanding credit for prior learning, offering flexible scheduling and streamlining academic advising.
• Ensuring Credentials of Value: Championing educational pathways that align directly with high-demand regional labor markets to foster economic mobility and family-sustaining wages.
• Providing Personalized Supports: Sharing and scaling best practices in tailored onboarding, public messaging and robust wraparound services that meet adult learners where they are.

By working at the intersection of applied research and practitioner collaboration, the ALL will host communities of practice, conduct qualitative and quantitative re-entry evaluations, and provide college leaders with clear evidence to inform state- and system-level decision-making. The ALL is intentionally designed to partner with both two-year and four-year institutions, state and system agencies, funders and others to strengthen adult learner success at scale. Whether a college is refining its re-entry strategy, redesigning pathways for adult students or aligning programs with regional workforce needs, the ALL works alongside leaders to co-create solutions grounded in evidence and adult learners’ lived experiences.

The ALL offers many entry points for collaboration, including research partnerships, institutional consulting, speaking and presentations, and funding partnerships. Together, this synergy positions the ALL as a concerted engine that helps redesign systems, elevates evidence and creates environments where adult learners can thrive.

Connect with the Adult Learner Lab today. 

About the Belk Center

As a trusted resource for North Carolina’s community college leaders, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research delivers actionable research and tailored leadership programming to advance college and student success. We support leaders at every stage of their careers, equipping them with timely insights and practical tools focused on improving the experiences and outcomes of their students. Our efforts are North Carolina-focused and nationally informed.

The Belk Center was launched in 2019 as a research center within the College of Education at NC State, a land-grant university that shares our commitment to community colleges and the critical role these institutions play in creating and expanding opportunities for all North Carolinians.