The America Council on Education (ACE) launched a pilot
providing nontraditional learners a more flexible pathway to a degree. To be
part of the pilot, 25 colleges and universities institutions agreed to accept
all or most transfer credit from a pool of about 100 low- or no-cost lower-division
general education online courses.
The program, made possible by a grant from the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, is focused on the more than 31 million adults
who finished some college-level coursework but not enough to earn a degree or
credential. Each institution will provide ACE with data regarding the credits
accepted, along with progress and success rates of the students in the project.
ACE is also working on ways to develop new guidelines
for issuing college credit for digital micro-credentials, competency-based
programs, and nondegree certificate programs.
“This project will yield multiple and long-lasting
benefits to the participating institutions, the wider higher education
community, and, potentially, millions of nontraditional learners,” said Deborah
Seymour, ACE assistant vice president for education attainment and innovation.
“It will help lead to great acceptance of alternative forms of credit in a way
that ensures quality and encourages more people to complete their postsecondary
education.”
