Skilled Teams of Support
If anyone in the Lawrence area knows the importance of adult learning opportunities, it is Chris Johnson. Chris has over 30 years of experience as a General Education Diploma (GED) and Basic Education Instructor with the Lawrence Adult Learning Center. The Adult Learning Center is an extension of Lawrence Public Schools and serves students in their pursuit of a GED. This center partners with The University of Kansas Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) to provide information about postsecondary options that students can pursue once they complete their GED.
Students who arrive at the Adult Learning Center wanting to complete their GED have a challenging road ahead, but they can rest assured knowing that they have a strong support system in place for the next steps of their educational journey. EOC advisors are available at GED enrollment sessions to answer questions students have about what comes after GED completion. When asked about the role that each EOC Academic Advisor has played over the years, Chris states, “It made it real that there was someone who could show them that there would be money [available for college].”
During Chris’s tenure, the Douglas County community has greatly improved post-GED opportunities. For instance, in the last decade, postsecondary enrollment has improved for Adult Learners thanks to the development of bus routes connecting Johnson County Community College to Lawrence, as well as the growth of the Peaslee Technical Center in East Lawrence. Although these developments have had a positive influence on those seeking career advancement opportunities, Chris knows well the struggles that Adult Learners continue to face. The most prominent obstacle for many students served by the Adult Learning Center and the EOC is their first-generation status.
Being one of the first members of the family to traverse the complex college admissions process comes with added pressure, as there is no one to look to within the family to answer questions. “I had no idea just how much a family member forging the way to college opens that path up for the rest of their family!”
EOC staff work diligently to demystify the financial aid process, advise students in finding a degree program that fits their interests and timelines, as well as work with students to overcome the complicated issues that Adult Learners often encounter. Of these obstacles, childcare, transportation, and job scheduling are at the forefront of the minds of many enrolled at the Adult Learning Center. According to Chris, the face-to-face interaction that occurs makes all the difference for the students at the Adult Learning Center. With passionate providers like Chris and the EOC team, students seeking a non-traditional path to GED completion and postsecondary enrollment have a skilled team ready to make these dreams a reality.
