Credentials Unscripted

Michael Werner, a Post-Secondary Planning Coordinator specializing in dual enrollment, shares expert insights on developing effective dual enrollment programs. He highlights practical strategies for increasing student participation, including the benefits of earning an Associate's degree in high school. Michael discusses the importance of clear communication with students and families, early engagement from middle school, and the collaboration needed between colleges and school districts. He also emphasizes structured pathways and support systems essential for student success.

What role can states play in advancing the credentialing ecosystem? In this episode, we speak with Nick Moore, Education Policy Advisor & Director from the Alabama Governor's Office, to learn how Alabama is revolutionizing credentialing and career pathways to further educational and economic mobility.

What is Course Sharing and how can it expand access to opportunities for students? Dr. Marina Aminy, Executive Director of California Virtual Campus, joins us to share why the California Community College System pursued Course Sharing and why it matters for students. 

Amanda Winters, Program Director at the National Governors Association, shares the work that states are doing to advance "skills-based hiring". We cover important changes in policy, the inherent ecosystem challenges and what this means for economic mobility.

Megan Garvy, Dual Enrollment Supervisor at Mesa Community College, shares the work they're doing with "Early College On-Ramps to Maricopa Pathways" to expand access to dual enrollment opportunities. Historically, dual enrollment has been dubbed a "program of privilege". Megan describes how they've increased access to college credit for students pursuing work-based certificates and CTE programs with success. You can learn more about Megan's work at her website - https://sites.google.com/view/levelupedupathways

Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer at Instructure, joins us to discuss the role of technology in education. As educational institutions rely more heavily on EdTech to deliver services to their students, we discuss what it means to be "student-centered" and "customer-centric" as a technology provider. Finally, we attempt to answer the important question: has technology actually made education better?

What does a credential represent? And, does a degree really tell me what you know and how well you know it? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Naomi Boyer, Senior VIce President of Digital Transformation at Education Design Lab to help us navigate the complex world of credentialing and why skills and competencies are the missing piece to advancing a learner's educational and professional opportunities.

Can Artificial Intelligence help students navigate their educational pathway? Dr. Zachary Pardos, Associate Professor of Education at UC-Berkeley, joins us to share exciting developments in AI that shows significant promise in helping students navigate their pathway to a credential.

Do we adequately know how to measure the totality of the college experience? How do we begin to measure the experiences of learners outside of the classroom? In this episode, we speak with Rob Buelow of Vector Solutions to discuss how universities can better engage students and employers by focusing on "durable skills" that better describe the value of the college experience.

The term "stackable credentials" can mean many things, from college efforts to embed short-term credentials into their degree programs to larger-scale efforts to rethink the way credentialing is done through alternative approaches, like skills and badges. We speak with Lindsay Daugherty, Senior Policy Researcher from RAND Corporation to dig into the research around stackable credential programs and whether they are delivering on their premise -- to advance a learner's opportunities and outcomes.