Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield

Continuing Ed highlights the need to respond to industry demands and learner interests. By identifying that need and filling it, CE can market itself as a great educational option for many students. Student demands are changing, and the schools they attend are adapting to better fit their needs, offering shorter, easy-to-pick-up programs to those currently in the workforce as well as those just starting their education journey but not looking for a four-year commitment.

Incremental credentialing stood out amid the pandemic as an affordable and flexible option for non-traditional, especially marginalized, students to upskill or reskill quickly. Incremental credentials are an essential part of creating equitable education for all. The national Credential As You Go initiative launched on May 12th at the kick-off meeting of the new Advisory Board.

Students, parents, & teachers need to know which skills training programs lead to employment Americans need clear and reliable information about their educational options. But they also need to know how to navigate these options. It’s no mystery why: there are nearly 1,000,000 unique credentials issued in the U.S. and more than 50,000 training providers and community colleges that offer credentials.