The mission of the AELEL program is to enable every adult learner in American Samoa to acquire the necessary basic skills in math, reading, writing, speaking, and listening in order to compete successfully in today’s workplace, strengthen their family foundation, and exercise full citizenship.
The American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Division of Adult Education Literacy and Extended Learning (AELEL) is designed to fulfill the College’s mission of making educational services available to the non-traditional student population of American Samoa by offering credit and non-credit courses. Continuing Education courses provide development, improvement, and advancement of specific and general work-related skills.
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education provides instruction in the basic academic areas of Mathematics and English as college preparatory courses and for occupational skills. Courses range from English literacy to government, health and consumer economics.
Classes are offered on the ASCC campus as well as at work sites, villages and other convenient locations. ABE classes are advertised in the local media.
A General Education Diploma (GED) preparatory instruction program is provided at no charge to any student who has not graduated from high school and who is at least sixteen (16) years of age. Students are taught the basic skills necessary to sit the GED.
Examinations in the following areas: Writing/Essay Skills, Science, Social Sciences, Reading Skills and Mathematics. A student must be at least 18 years old to sit the GED Exams in American Samoa.
The GED Examination is a nationally written and administered battery tests designated to measure high school education equivalency. The Testing and Evaluation Division of the American Samoa Government Department of Education monitors the students’ results and recommends the issuance of the high school diploma. Upon successful completion of the tests, the American Samoa Department of Education awards a high school diploma to the student. The student has to register online to take the tests using the 2014 GED series. The GED online tests have been contracted to Pearson Vue Testing Centers.
Registration, Tuition and Fees
While a few limited enrollment classes require prior registration, it is possible to enroll in most Continuing Education courses by attending the first class session. Students must be at least 16 years of age. High school students must receive confirmation documents indicating that they are no longer enrolled at their respective schools and permission from parents, and provide immigration status clearances, at the time of registration. Adult Education classes are provided at no cost. Community Service classes are $35.00 per class.
Continuing Education Courses (Extended Learning)
In most cases, students in Continuing Education courses earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) which cannot be counted towards a college degree. However, if a specific course meets the same academic requirements as a college credit course, the student may petition the Dean of Academic Affairs and when appropriate the Dean of Trades and Technology Division for permission to use CEUs as transfer credit, provided all other transfer requirements are met.
A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is defined as “ten contact hours of participation in an organized Continuing Education, adult or extension experience under the supervision of a qualified instructor.” The CEU should not be interpreted as a substitute for college credit, rather, a means of recording and reporting the Continuing Education activities achieved by an individual.
Certificate of Completion (COC) are awarded to all individuals who successfully complete Continuing Education courses.
Continuing Education activities may have a direct impact on current and future employment and should be included on resumes and/or applications for employment or promotion. Students may obtain copies of transcripts of Continuing Education activities by contacting the State Director of AELEL.
