January 2023 | ISSUE # 8

2023 Cohort Selected for Expansion and Adoption Initiative Funded by Walmart

On January 11, Credential As You Go announced its 2023 Cohort of organizations to join the incremental credentialing initiative, which is already supporting a number of institutions across three states: Colorado, North Carolina, and New York. This new expansion and adoption work is supported by a grant from Walmart. 

Twenty-eight applicants were selected from the Credential As You Go RFP Expansion and Adoption Initiative announced in September 2022. The 2023 Cohort includes seven private four-year colleges and universities, eight community colleges, nine public universities, two public systems of higher education, and two certifying organizations. Two minority-serving institutions (MSI) or Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), and several institutions serving primarily an adult learner population are included in the 2023 Cohort. 

2023 Credential As You Go Summit - February 1

This Credential As You Go Summit on February 1 at 1 pm ET will explore accreditation and quality assurance issues arising in incremental credentialing. A panel representing institutional accreditation, specialized accreditation, and state systems of higher education/institutions participating in key incremental credentialing efforts will discuss:

• The ways accrediting bodies are/can support incremental credentialing
• What higher education institutions and state systems of higher education are doing to ensure quality and address accreditation requirement

An open forum will follow the panel to enable audience participation and expand the discussion.

The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library

The learn-and-work ecosystem is a connected system of formal and informal learning (education/training) and work. The ecosystem is composed of many building blocks. When all the building blocks are working together, individuals are able to move more seamlessly through the marketplace using a variety of credentials to communicate the skills and knowledge acquired in multiple settings (e.g., school, work, service, self-study). Employers have more detailed and externally-validated information during their hiring and upskilling processes. Schools are better able to count learning obtained outside of academic settings toward a degree or other credential. And the public is informed about our learn-and-work ecosystem. For the ecosystem to function effectively, all parts of the system must be connected and coordinated.

On December 1, 2022, the prototype Learn & Work Ecosystem Library was launched via LIVE webinar. The goal of the Library is to make learn-and-work ecosystem information easier to find, use, and maximize for diverse stakeholders. The Library informs users through three types of content:

• Knowledge: Knowledge about components and sub-components in the ecosystem, including links to other websites and resources for further information
• Initiatives: Key projects working in these areas, to improve aspects of the ecosystem
• Alliances: Networks/alliances/intermediaries in the ecosystem

Please check out the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library, review the website, add content, and suggest changes to keep the Library accurate and updated! 

Bidding Farewell & Happy Retirement to Larry Good

Good was CEO of CSW & original Co-Lead for Credential As You Go

After four decades of dedication to workforce development and 31 years driving systems change at Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, CSW President & CEO Larry Good retired. Melissa Goldberg from CSW is serving on the Credential As You Go Leadership Team, in Larry's place. 

Digital Credentials Summit 2023

Holly Zanville is presenting about the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library at 1EdTech's Digital Credentials Summit 2023 in February. Board Members David Leaser and Jim Daniels are presenting a special workshop on digital badging in the workplace. 

Making Credit For Prior Learning Work for All Students

In a blog post published on ACT.org, Credential As You Go Board Member Tina Gridiron, vice president of ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning, talks with Chris Guidry, vice president for community affairs at CAEL, and Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America, about the importance of ensuring students get the most out of their prior learning. As Spiva says, “Lived experience matters! We all gain valuable learning from multiple ways both inside and outside of the classroom. Students shouldn’t have to take classes for what they already know.”

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