To date, 130 incremental credentials have been developed as part of the IES grant. Of these, 70% are launched and 30% are in development. Of the 130 credentials, 45% are credit-bearing, 41% are non-credit bearing, and 11% are a combination, often including industry credentials or credit for prior learning (CPL).
For credit credentials, the most common range is 9-12 credits within the first two years of undergraduate studies. of credit and non-credit. The titling of these credentials (e.g., microcredential, badge, certificate, degree) varies, with microcredential the most common (29%).
The credentials being designed are also using different (and multiple) approaches of the Incremental Credentialing Framework. Only 18% are using one approach; the remaining are using two or more approaches.
Multiple Approaches Using Incremental Credentialing Framework (n = 130)
Stack As You Go: 40%
Learn As You Go: 34%
Specialize As You Go: 32%
Partner As You Go: 19%
Transfer As You Go: 12%
Retro As You Go: 8%
The ways in which the credentials are being developed vary. Some are developing credentials as parts of or chunking of the whole degree. Many are very aligned to specific jobs and industries, and we are finding that those who work with specific partners are already seeing positive learner outcomes. We see a growing number of embedded prior learning and industry certifications. And some are working on noncredit to credit pathways.
The top five topic areas of incremental credentialing developments are Information Technology (25), Business (25), Healthcare (23), Education (12), and Technical/Trades (12).
Cohort One-to-One Discussions
In September, the Credential As You Go Team concluded nearly 100 hours of one-on-one conversations with Network members who joined through the Walmart cohort grant. Previously, over 100 hours of one-on-one conversations occurred with the 2022 Cohort through the IES grant. The purpose of the discussions was to offer technical assistance and learn about network members’ incremental credentialing processes, progress, and biggest challenges and lessons learned to date.
We received feedback on Credential As You Go’s resources (website, case studies, playbooks, webinars, summits, affinity group and large group gatherings, and technical assistance) which are most or least helpful, and how could we improve resources and assistance. The Research Brief: Lessons Learned & Milestones In Credential As You Go (2021-2023) summarizes these discussions.
Credential As You Go’s 2023 Network Conference was held September 20-21 and attended by approximately 125 members from across the country who are working on incremental credentialing. The conference featured 13 breakout sessions of teams developing various types of incremental credentials, a “lightning round” with several teams presenting their work to the plenary session, a student voices panel, a leadership panel identifying 1-2 key questions around incremental credentialing, plenary on milestones and lessons learned from one-to-one discussion with institutions between 2021-2023, a funders’ panel, and five Board member video spotlights.
All conference materials and additional resources can be found here.
We debuted our first video, Transforming the Nation's Credentialing System at the 2023 Network Conference. This is an open-source resource! We encourage you to share it across your networks.
Playbooks
Nine playbooks are now available for viewing by practitioners, policymakers, and others. The next playbooks to be posted soon include:
Credit for Prior Learning in Incremental Credentialing (January)
Learner Supports in Incremental Credentialing (January)
Leveraging Partnerships in Incremental Credentialing (January)
Quality and Value in Incremental Credentialing (January)
Four NEW Research Briefs
Credential as You Go issued several reports over the last few months. The four new research briefs summarize reports available at the Publications and/or Research pages of the website and can be downloaded here. The research briefs can be found here.
The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library will soon have a new look! The Library team has been working with a technology vendor to update and increase the user experience on the website.
The Library has also hired a part-time librarian, Matthew Valdez, to update and maintain the library’s collection and ensure stakeholder access to key resources. Matthew has almost 20 years of experience in academic libraries and higher education, working with institutions at the community college, state college and private university level. Previously, he served as a Reference and Instruction Librarian and Archivist for the Pikes Peak State College system, Technology Specialist at the University of Denver, and Senior Online Librarian at American Public University System. His work in higher education has focused on information literacy instruction, digital accessibility, Open Educational Resources, and educational technology. Valdez received a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Denver; Bachelor of Science in History from Colorado State University – Pueblo; and Associate of Applied Science in Library Science from Pueblo Community College.
The Library has grown substantially in users and content since its launch. The Newsroom is regularly updated with content. See this report for more information.
Stephanie Bailey, Nan Travers, and Ashley Frank at the CAEL Conference.
Presentations Completed
October 4-6: 2023 ACT Workforce Summit (Zanville)
October 24: Digital Credentials Consortium Community (Zanville, Travers)
October 26: Institute of Credentialing Excellence Exchange (Goldberg, Bailey, Dale, Fast)
November 1-2: 2023 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education (AACRAO & UPCEA) (Zanville, Travers)
November 8-10:CAEL Conference: Credit for Prior Learning: Institutional Resources at Your Fingertips. (Travers, Frank)
