A new initiative supported by OCTAE aims to build the capacity of community and technical colleges to embed stackable, industry-recognized credentials within technical associate degree programs. The Pathways to Credentials initiative will provide customized technical assistance to help colleges advance their efforts in stackable credential design, including components such as employer engagement, industry certification alignment, and non-credit/credit integration. OCTAE recently announced the colleges selected for participation in the technical assistance cohort that launches this month. The following schools will be receiving technical assistance:
Community College of Aurora/Colorado Northwestern Community College (CO)
University of District of Columbia Community College (DC)
Lake-Sumter State College (FL)
Leeward Community College (HI)
Malcolm X College (IL)
Southern University – Shreveport (LA)
Ocean County College (NJ)
Onondaga Community College (NY)
Community College of Allegheny County (PA)
North Central Texas College (TX)
Led by the Center for Occupational Research and Development and partner organization, Social Policy Research Associates , Pathways to Credentials will provide technical assistance services to participating colleges from May 2020 through July 2021. College teams will work with a coach and other subject matter experts to develop action plans specific to the workforce needs of their communities while benefiting from the peer learning community of the cohort.
In recent years, the stackable credentials approach has emerged as a notable practice to help students progress along the education continuum and obtain a postsecondary credential with labor market value. In addition to providing technical assistance, Pathways to Credentials will publish a new edition of the Stackable Credentials Tool Kit and related tutorials to support community and technical colleges across the United States. These planned resources will be posted on the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network website at https://cte.ed.gov/initiatives/credentials,where the existing tool kit and tutorials are currently available.