Center for Academic Innovation’s New Book “Beyond the Degree” Reveals What 50 Adult Learner Stories Can Teach Higher Education
Authored by Dr. Matt Bergman and Bridgett R. Strickler, “Beyond the Degree: Stories of Adult Learner Comebacks and What They Teach Us” blends authentic adult learner stories with contemporary research and insights.
Louisville, Kentucky, September 1, 2026 –The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI), a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming higher education to better serve adult learners, today announced the release of “Beyond the Degree: Stories of Adult Learner Comebacks and What They Teach Us” by Dr. Matt Bergman and Bridgett R. Strickler. Blending the authentic stories of 50 adult learners with evidence-based research, the book gives nontraditional students an opportunity to see themselves in the narratives and recognize the possibility of professional and academic success, while offering insights to guide much-needed transformations within the higher education space.
CAI’s publication of “Beyond the Degree” arrives at a pivotal time for higher education. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, nearly 43.1 million have some college credit, but no credential—nearly 38 million of these people are working age adults (65 or younger). Meanwhile, institutions are squeezed for traditional aged enrollments due to the demographic cliff brought on by declining birthrates during the Great Recession, a trend researchers estimate will lead to as much as a 15% drop in the number of 18-year old students entering college by 2039.
“When you look at the current state of higher education, investing in adult learners and creating more educational opportunities for nontraditional college students makes financial sense. But it takes more than research to build these programs,” said Dr. Bergman. “Bridgett and I wrote this book to give adult learners a voice in a conversation that often fails to include them. They are the experts in their own experiences. By aligning their stories with concepts that support their educational journey, we hope to show the transformative power of building programs centered on what adult learners need versus trying to fit this segment of students into a system not built for them.”
Bergman and Strickler believe that the rapidly growing population of adult learners is the nation’s largest untapped talent pool. They wrote the book not only to offer adult learners stories that reflect their lived experiences and to show them what’s possible, but to give educators, institutional leaders, employers, and policymakers a learner-centered framework that improves persistence, belonging, and degree completion within the adult learner community.
“Our book challenges long-standing assumptions about who today's college students are, and what they need to succeed. To get to the heart of what’s missing in educational frameworks when it comes to adult learning programs, we knew we had to share their stories firsthand,” said Strickler. “Stories don't just inspire, they help us see what the data doesn’t show. Every adult learner's journey in this book is unique, but together they reveal patterns about persistence, belonging, and the kinds of support that make a difference. Our hope is that these stories not only honor the learners who shared them, but also help higher education build systems that better serve the adults.”
“Beyond the Degree” marks a major milestone for CAI, extending its nonprofit work beyond consulting and professional development into a lasting resource for the field. It is also the first collaboration between Bergman's adult learner-focused research and Strickler's work elevating adult learner voice through storytelling. Readers will gain much insight into the varying nature of adult learner experiences and challenges, in addition to learning new educational frameworks that directly support adult learners and lead to better outcomes for the students, higher education institutions, and employers.
Bergman’s and Strickler’s book is available for purchase now at: “Beyond the Degree: Stories of Adult Learner Comebacks and What They Teach Us.” Fifty percent of the book’s proceeds go to adult learner scholarships through the Center for Academic Innovation.
About the Center for Academic Innovation
The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) is a national nonprofit organization that partners with colleges, universities, and systems to expand access, improve persistence, and accelerate degree completion for adult learners. Through focused expertise in Credit for Prior Learning, adult learner strategy, and institutional change, CAI helps higher education better recognize experience, value learning, and deliver opportunity at scale.
About the Authors
Dr. Mathew J. Bergman is Founder and President of the Center for Academic Innovation, Partner Faculty at the University of Louisville, and a nationally recognized researcher on adult learner success. He is co-author of Beyond the Degree and works with institutions nationwide to improve adult learner persistence and degree completion.
Bridgett R. Strickler is a TEDx speaker, storyteller, and national leader in adult learner engagement. She is Senior Partner for Adult Learner Engagement at the Center for Academic Innovation and co-author of “Beyond the Degree: Stories of Adult Learner Comebacks and What They Teach Us.” Her work focuses on elevating adult learner voices and helping institutions better serve today's adult learners.
Media Contacts:
Dr. Matt Bergman
Founder & PresidentCenter for Academic Innovation
matt@centerforacademicinnovation.org
502-797-3722
Bridgett Strickler
Senior Partner for Adult Learner Engagement
Center for Academic Innovation
Bridgett@centerforacademicinnovation.org
502-645-2326