The webinar, "Show Me the Money: In a Crowded Market, How are Colleges Communicating the Value of Non-Degree Credentials," brought together Stacy Caldwell, CEO of CredLens; Maria Toyoda, president and CEO of the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); and Binh Thuy Do, vice president of research and development at Calbright College. The session was moderated by Seth Harris, a distinguished professor at Northeastern University and former senior official at the U.S. Department of Labor.
The conversation comes as enrollment data signals a striking shift in American higher education. According to figures released last week by the National Student Clearinghouse, certificate program enrollment at community colleges grew more than 12 percent year over year, a pace far outstripping enrollment growth in associate degree programs.
But popularity, panelists cautioned, does not equal efficacy.
"We do not have systematic, reliable, and readily available information about whether and which credentials actually lead to increased productivity for employers and wage gains, better job opportunities, and greater economic security for workers," Harris said in his opening remarks.
Caldwell, whose organization CredLens works directly with community colleges and training providers to link credential data to real labor market outcomes, said the sector's central failure is not a lack of good instincts. Instead, she added, it’s a lack of verified information.
"Leaders know their programs and they know their populations," Caldwell said. "But they may not have enough rich, verified data to feel confident going public with what they know."
