New York State Continuing Education Needs Assessment. Report No. 1: Statewide Analysis.

Overview & Synopsis

A study was done to gather and compare data regarding continuing education needs of New York State adults, the present delivery system for continuing education in the state, and inservice training needs of continuing education faculty and administrators. The study had a three-part data collection effort. Subsequent to developing survey instruments, 20,486 New York State adults were interviewed regarding their continuing education needs, providers of educational opportunities for adults were surveyed concerning their program offerings, and administrators and teachers in continuing education programs were surveyed to assess their inservice training needs. The findings included these: (1) Most adults are interested in learning, (2) the choices of adults reflect a wide variety of learning interests, (3) the choices and reasons given for the selection of a first-choice learning interest differed according to the adult's life situation or special characteristics as a potential learner, (4) for a variety of reasons, many adults do not participate in organized continuing education activities, (5) the present continuing education system in New York State is largely self-supporting, and (6) nearly two-thirds of continuing education administrators and 90% of the teachers surveyed are employed part-time. (This report includes 212 tables, a proposal for a three-year plan of action and the survey instruments.) (EM)