CBEs GET DEGREES: More than 500 colleges and universities are offering competency-based education (CBE) programs, which measure students’ progress in terms of skill mastery regardless of how long or where they study. These tracks in fields like business administration and criminal justice are largely only available to students who are “college-ready.” A new report from Jobs for the Future suggests CBE could be a viable option for adult learners who need remedial education in math and/or literacy before they can begin college-level work.
“If designed with the needs of a broader range of learners in mind, CBE could be an important piece of the national movement to increase educational access, equity, and credential attainment,” the report says. Over the next year JFF will release two more reports exploring how CBE programs might help more underprepared college students move closer toward graduation.
The pace of implementation for CBE programs at higher-ed institutions remains gradual, according to a study from Ellucian, Eduventures and the American Council on Education published this week.
