"In a recent Forbes column, Lumina Foundation president Jamie Merisotis reminded us that degrees must do more than certify coursework-they must create real value for students and employers. In Indiana, where Sagamore Institute's 2040 workforce economy study and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education warn of falling college-going rates, this challenge is especially urgent. That is the backdrop for Butler University's boldest experiment yet: Founder's College, launched August 2025."
"The Founder's College model confronts a growing national conversation: does the U.S. need more pathways beyond the traditional four-year degree? Institutions across the country are piloting three-year bachelor's options and embedded two-year credentials to align faster, more affordable education with urgent labor market shortages while maximizing current infrastructure to meet needs. Butler University has placed itself in this conversation with uncommon clarity."
"At Founder's College, students complete a two-year associate degree in six structured semesters, front-loading the critical skills usually acquired in a student's junior and senior years-career motivation, professional identity and workforce readiness. This compressed pathway is not cut-rate-it is deliberately sequenced with degree programs tied to Classification of Instructional Programs codes and O*NET occupational standards synced to NACE competencies, ensuring that every credential reflects real career demand in Indiana and beyond."
Founder's College launched August 2025 compresses a two-year associate degree into six structured semesters that front-load career-motivating skills typically taught in junior and senior years. The program sequences curricula to align with Classification of Instructional Programs codes, O*NET occupational standards, and NACE competencies so credentials match employer demand. The model aims to offer faster, more affordable pathways while leveraging existing institutional infrastructure and responding to Indiana labor-market growth and industry skill mismatches in health care, professional services, technology, and advanced manufacturing. The blueprint emphasizes workforce alignment and equity by designing credentials tied to documented occupational needs.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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