A Brief History of the Commission for Commuter Students & Adult Learners

The origins of Commission XVII (Commuter Students and Adult Learners) traces back to the growing interest in commuter students and their special needs that emerged during the early 1970’s. While the University of Maryland at College Park created the first Office of Commuter Affairs and the National Clearinghouse for Commuter Programs in 1972, clearly professionals working with commuters needed a resource network. ACPA’s Commission II (Admissions and Orientation) agreed to host the young Commuter Task Force in 1975. The Association officially created Commission XVII (Commuter Programs) at the 1978 Detroit ACPA National Convention.  At the 1988 ACPA National Convention in St. Louis, the Commission name officially changed to Commission XVII (Commuter Students and Adult Learners). This action clearly indicated adult learners as a particular portion of the commuter student population and is another important part of the Commission’s advocacy, networking, and education.