Rethinking PLA: The Urgency of Counting Prior Learning
As the country works toward economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are at least 10 million unemployed Americans, many of whom are looking to higher education as a pathway to their next career step. Now more than ever, adult learners are keenly aware of the return of investment they receive from…
Read MoreImproving Workforce Success among America’s College Students
As the presidential campaign of 2020 kicks into high gear, the stagnation of worker earnings in recent decades has drawn much attention and comment from the candidates. Yet, outside of advocating for a few trendy proposals like free college, the candidates have said little to date on how to improve education and skills, especially those…
Read MoreA Vision for Re-Defining the Relationship Between Colleges and Employers
Last year, JP Morgan Chase announced it would end its decades-long practice of on-campus recruiting. The news came at a time when many large companies like Apple, Google, and Netflix were announcing they would loosen or altogether scrap degree requirements for employees, and the investment bank’s announcement appeared to be yet another sign of friction…
Read MoreWhat “Persistence and Retention” Means for Adult Learners
In an era when declining enrollment looms large, and the demographics of higher education are undergoing an unprecedented shift. Colleges and universities are clamoring to attract so-called “nontraditional students.” But, while institutions are quick to market more flexible pathways to a degree, many still expect their adult, parent, and working learners — who are rapidly…
Read MoreTransforming the Transcript
Flipping the Script: Making sure all learning counts. “I was worried I would not be able to find a job due to my lack of experience, inadequate resume and now, time away from the workforce. I continued to apply for work. To my dismay, my resume did not demonstrate that I was a strong enough…
Read MoreCapturing All Learning, and Documenting It, Too
Elon University serves as one of the leaders in experiential education, expanding students’ knowledge beyond the classroom to the real world. These experiences, ranging from internships to study abroad, have become strongholds of an Elon education and is what drew us to pick Elon as the college we both wanted to attend. But we both…
Read MoreA Q&A with Gardner Carrick, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for The Manufacturing Institute, The National Association of Manufacturers
Insights & Outlooks: What are the most important education and training priorities for the manufacturing sector today? Manufacturers across the country are facing a workforce crisis. Surveys of the members of the National Association of Manufacturers have shown finding and retaining a qualified workforce to be the top concern for nearly two years running. This…
Read MoreThe Digital Badge Revolution
For better or worse, we live in a society in which credentials are currency. A credential is a signal that the bearer has participated in and successfully completed some type of formal learning. Some credentials are broad and encompassing while others are highly specialized. In spite of the vast number of credentials awarded by an…
Read MoreBackgrounder: Evolving Models of Postsecondary Learning
Today’s students—who are more likely to be workers, parents, returning adults, veterans, and more—may have postsecondary education experiences and pathways that don’t fit traditional molds. They no longer follow a single and consistent pathway to a degree. Today’s students need access to more flexible higher learning pathways and delivery models, as well as access to…
Read MoreTo Unlock the Value of the Degree, Break It Down: How Digital Credentials Might Bend the Curve on Degree Skepticism
Less than half of Americans now believe that going to college will pay off with higher lifetime earnings. And employers, faced with seemingly endemic skills gaps, are beginning to look beyond the degree as a proxy for skills that matter in the future of work. Earlier this year, JPMorgan announced it will end the practice…
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