MeaningfulCredentials:WhatareStudentsEarninguponGraduation?

ClarePapayandCateWeirNovember2017

Thissession

•Whycredentialsareimportant•WhatknowaboutcredentialscurrentlyofferedbyTPSIDs•Howtodevelopameaningfulcredential

Whatisacredential?

•Acredentialisaverificationofqualificationorcompetencyissuedtoastudentbyanaccreditedinstitutionofhighereducation(IHE)– typicallyadiploma,certificate,ordegree.

•Studentsearnthecredentialbyfollowingandcompletingaprescribedcourseofstudy

Shanley,J.,Weir,C.,Grigal.M.(2014).CredentialActionPlanningToolforPostsecondaryProgramsforStudentswithIntellectualDisabilities.Boston,MA,ThinkCollege,UniversityofMassachusettsBoston

Whatissuesareyouinterestedinrelatedtostudentcredentials?

q Gettingacredentialapprovedbymycollege/university

q Measuringprogresstowardthecredential

q Passingthelicensingexamsrelatedtoalaborcredential

q Makingourcredentialmeaningfultoemployers

q Transferabilitytofurtherpostsecondarystudy

q Other??

WhyarethecredentialsstudentswithIDearnimportant?

HigherEducationCredentialsVocabulary

Postsecondaryaward,diploma,orcertificate

Degree

Micro-credential

IHE-approved

Industry-recognized

ARETHESETERMSFAMILIAR?

OptionsforCredentials

•Programcreatesanewcredentialthatonlytheirstudentsearn.•Alignedwithanindustry-recognizedcredential•Certificateofcompletionofaprogramofstudies

•Programcreatesanewcredentialthatallstudentscanearn

•OfferaccesstoanexistingcredentialalreadyapprovedbyandawardedbytheIHE

CredentialsofferedbyTPSIDs2016-17

47 sitesoffered60 totalcredentials11sitesofferedmorethan1credential

56 credentialswerepostsecondaryawards/certificates

4 credentialsweremicro-credentials(badges)

8 programshadstudentswhoearnedcredentialsthatareavailabletoallstudents

CredentialsofferedbyTPSIDs2016-17

34 credentials(57%)wereapprovedbyIHEgovernance

6 (11%)werealignedwithindustry-recognizedcredentialExample:NationalRetailFoundation

19 (32%)canbeearnedbynon-TPSIDstudents

TPSID52%IHE

36%

IHEContinuingEducation

12%

CREDENTIALAwardedBy:

CollegetoCareerExperienceCertificateofAccomplishment

1. 26hoursofcoursework– eitherforcreditoraudit.Individuallydeterminedinrelationtostudentgoals

2. Minimumof3supervisedinternshipsrelatedtocareergoal(paidorunpaid)

3. Studentportfolioofaccomplishment.Portfoliowillincludeexamplesofassignmentsorprojectsforcoursestakenforcredit;modifiedcourseassignmentsorprojectsforauditedclasses;examplesofskillsobtainedthroughinternships;andmayalsoincludeexamplesofleadershiporservicelearningactivitiesoncampusorinthecommunity,extra-curricularinvolvement,etc.

UPProgramCertificateofAccomplishment

• Awardedafter2-yearsbasedonsatisfactorycompletionoffiveprogramcomponents.Thesecomponentsincludethefollowing:• PersonalDevelopmentSkills• CommunityParticipationSkills• VocationalPreparationSkills• SocialParticipationandLearning• CourseAuditing- 3to4coursespersemester

• IndividualobjectiveswritteneachsemesterforeachstudentinanIndividualPlanforCollegeParticipation• StudentsareeligibleforaCertificateofAccomplishmentbasedonthefollowingcriteria:• Completionof1800hoursoflearningactivitiesoverafoursemesterperiod• Achievementofatleast80%oftheobjectivespersemesterwithineachcomponentoftheplan;and

• RecommendationforaUPCertificateofAccomplishmentbytheprogramcoordinatorandSteeringCommittee.

Planning

•Conveneateamtodevelopthecredential•Formalizethecourseofstudyuponwhichthecredentialwillbebased• Identifyacredentialtitle• LearnwhatotherpostsecondaryprogramsforstudentswithIDaredoingtocreateacredential•ReviewguidanceforcredentialdevelopmentprovidedbytheHigherEducationAct

ObtainingIHEapproval

• Understandyourinstitutionalpoliciesandproceduresrelatedtoestablishingacredential• Identifytheofficeatyourinstitutionthatisresponsibleforstudentcredentials• DetermineiftheIHEhasanexistingcredentialthatcanbeadoptedormodifiedtoserveasthecredentialforstudentsinyourprogram• Speakwithstaffinvolvedwithinstitutionalaccreditationtodeterminehowthecredentialyouaredevelopingmayrelatetoprogramand/orinstitutionalaccreditationpoliciesandprocedures• GatherinformationabouthowthecredentialmayaffectparticipationofyourprograminTitleIVFederalStudentAid• DesignthecredentialtomeetCTPrequirements

ImplementationandEvaluation

•Determineandcreatemarketingandinformationalcommunicationsaboutthecredential

•Establishandimplementanevaluationplan

Resources

• CreativeApproachestoMeaningfulCredentials– April2017webinar

presentedbyBarbaraBookman,MarthaMock,andCarrieShockley

• CredentialActionPlanningTool

• InsightBriefonCredentialDevelopment

• Articleonthemicro-credentialsmovementinhighereducation