About Us

MPAEA Mission Statement

The Mission of the MPAEA is to support and promote lifelong learning in the Mountain Plains Region. In order to achieve its mission, the association:

• Promotes and provides professional development opportunities for adult educators.
• Publishes and distributes relevant information about lifelong learning.
• Supports and strengthens member associations within the states of the region.
• Seeks and fosters realistic and innovative approaches to lifelong learning.
• Creates and facilitates a forum for futuristic planning.

MPAEA Constitution & Standing Rules - (PDF Document)

MPAEA Strategic Plan - (PDF Document)

MPAEA History

The Mountain Plains Adult Education Association serves members in an eight-state region. The original charter and founding policies were developed in 1945. The four original states were Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. In 1961, Arizona, Idaho and Nevada joined. Montana became the eighth state in 1988.

The Association has grown from the vision of a few hard-working pioneers to become a creative and effective force in the field of adult and continuing education.

The Association is one of the oldest regional adult education organizations in the United States. For more than a half century, MPAEA has been on the cutting edge of adult education as a state, regional and national imperative.

What MPAEA can do for you

• MPAEA membership offers you opportunities for professional and program development, networking, information-sharing and planning.
• MPAEA publishes the MPAEA Newsletter and the MPAEA Journal of Adult Education (a scholarly refereed publication).
• Members are eligible for several awards, given annually.
• A $1,000 scholarship for graduate work in the field of adult education is presented to an MPAEA member each year.
• A $1,000 scholarship for innovation is awarded each year through a proposal process.
• Each spring, the MPAEA Annual Conference (hosted by one of the eight Mountain Plains States) offers professional development opportunities for members and others.

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