Thomas Edison State University is participating in ACE's Alternative Credit Project, aimed at advancing national attainment of college degrees
Thomas Edison State University has joined an alternative credit consortium led by the American Council on Education (ACE) that is working to create more flexible pathways for nontraditional learners who want to finish a college degree.
The University is one of 25 institutions in the consortium, where schools have agreed to accept all or most of the transfer credit sought by students who successfully complete courses that are part of a selected pool of about 100 low-cost or no-cost lower division general education online courses. The institutions will also help identify the sources, criteria and quality of the courses.
“We are excited to be a part of this important effort on national attainment,” said Marc Singer, vice provost of the Center for the Assessment of Learning at Thomas Edison State University. “We believe this consortium can increase access to higher education for more students around the country who are interested in earning a college degree.”
The initiative is made possible by a $1.89 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Its initial focus will be on the more than 31 million adults in the U.S. who have completed some postsecondary course work but lack a degree or credential.
“The institutions serving in this pilot project will play a valuable role in helping enhance the work we have been doing for many years in developing quality mechanisms for determining the credit worthiness of education, training and life experiences outside of a formal higher education classroom setting,” said Molly Corbett Broad, ACE president. “We very much appreciate this generous investment and the commitment it represents to the effort to provide a more flexible and cost-efficient way to increase the number of Americans able to gain a college degree or credential.”
As an additional part of the effort, ACE will expand its current work in the area of college credit recommendations by developing a quality framework and guidelines for issuing recommendations for digital micro-credentials, competency-based programs, and non-degree certificate programs.
In addition to Thomas Edison State University, participating institutions include: American Public University; Capella University; Central Michigan University; Charter Oak State College; Colorado Community College System; Colorado Technical University; East Carolina University; Fayetteville State University; Fort Hays State University; Goodwin College; John F. Kennedy University; Kaplan University; Lakeland College; Metropolitan State University of Denver; National Louis University; Northern Arizona University; Northwestern State University; Notre Dame College; SUNY Empire State College; Texas Woman's University; University of Baltimore; University of Maryland University College; University of Memphis; University of North Carolina.
“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, assistant vice president for Education Attainment and Innovation at ACE. “It will help lead to the greater acceptance of alternative forms of credit in a way that ensures quality and encourages more people to complete their postsecondary education.”
Toni M. Terry, BA