What’s New in Competency-Based Higher Education?

The Future of Higher Education

• Michael Horn joined EdNext Editor-in-chief Marty West to discuss micro-credentials for teachers, and how professional development is changing in this EdNext podcast.
• Brian Peddle offers commentary on the college transcript of the future—and the processes holding it back.
• The 2017 New Media Consortium Higher Education Report identifies trends and technologies that will impact the future of higher education. Competency education is noted within as an innovative idea reshaping the higher education experience.

New Competency-Based Programs

• University of Maine at Presque Isle is implementing a proficiency-based approach, where freshmen use an educational ‘roadmap’ to show their proficiency in over 100 learning outcomes by graduation.
• The American Public University System, with enrollment at 90,000, now offers four competency-based undergraduate degrees that require students to master at least 60 competency-based modules for completion – eliminating the credit hour standard. Read more from Education Dive.
• Southern New Hampshire University will offer competency-based programs (health-care management, communications, general studies, and management) to federal employees through College of America—allowing them to develop skills immediately applicable in the workplace.

News & Events

• The University of Texas at Arlington is evaluating the implementation of a competency education program to attract nontraditional college students already in the workforce.
• Matt Reed highlights procrastination as a potential shortcoming in competency-based higher education institutions. He asks, “Has anyone seen an elegant and effective solution to the procrastination problem in competency-based programs?”
• There is one remaining webinar in the CBE for Community Colleges webinar series this academic year. The webinars are free to attend: CBE Transcripting, 4/19/2017.

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