Non-degree credentials are critical to businesses and the economy, but our financial aid policies have not been updated to reflect the changing needs of students and workers in the 21st century economy. This is due, in part, to limited agreement on how to ensure that occupational education and training programs are aligned with the needs of industry and of sufficient quality to justify federal and state aid. This webinar will explain the need for quality assurance mechanisms for short-term programs, discuss why existing mechanisms are insufficient and provide state and federal policy recommendations that would direct federal aid to quality short-term programs. New Jersey and Virginia will then discuss how they have implemented their own methods for identifying quality industry credentials.
This webinar will draw from the WDQC publication entitled Programs that Work: Quality Assurance for Short-Term Occupational Programs.
Speakers:
- Jenna Leventoff, Workforce Data Quality Campaign
- Kermit Kaleba, National Skills Coalition
- David W. Ramsay, Office of Research and Information, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Jeffrey Stoller, Office of Research and Information, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Jason Timian, Office of Research and Information, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Carrie Douglas, Virginia Community College System
- Rochelle Fisher, Virginia Community College System
Resources:
- Slide deck
- Programs that Work:Quality Assurance for Short-Term Occupational Programs
- MSSC Board-suggested Quality Assurance Guidelines for Industry-recognized Certifications