"And while some programs offer high returns, others yield little to none or insufficiently track outcomes. Now, two accrediting agencies are stepping into that murky terrain, hoping to bring some order-and branch out into a new market. Both the New England Commission of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission, which has been researching short-term programs for eight years, are gearing up to assess whether providers of these programs meet their standards."
"For colleges and universities, NECHE's recognition will be a bonus marker of quality on top of their existing accreditation. The move comes after the accreditor spent two years developing a microcredential-focused quality framework and testing it out on a cohort of six providers as part of a pilot project funded by the Lumina Foundation. Now, NECHE plans to launch its new recognition process for noncredit providers this upcoming spring."
The microcredential market comprises tens of thousands of providers inside and outside higher education, offering short-term programs such as certificates, badges, and boot camps that span weeks to over a year. Program quality and outcome tracking vary widely, with some programs producing strong returns while others yield little or untracked benefits. Regional accreditors NECHE and the Higher Learning Commission are preparing to assess noncredit providers against standards. NECHE developed a microcredential-focused quality framework, piloted it with six providers in a Lumina-funded project, and plans to launch a recognition process next spring targeting at least thirty applicants.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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