Connecting Credentials Framework (CFF)
Research Report: The State of Career Technical Education: Credentials of Value – Advance CTE
Framework for Advancing Equitable Credit for Prior Learning – REACH Guidebook Series
Innovations in Higher Education: Preparing for the Future of Learning & Work
FutureReady States— Lumina Foundation
Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) – Credential Engine
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
Bridging Education and Employment Through Open Standards – 1EdTech and HR Open Standards Consortium
Skills Visibility in the Evolving Skills-Based Economy
Community Vibrancy Framework — Achieving the Dream (ATD)
LER Toolkit – T3 Innovation Network
Supporting Adult Learners and Boosting Degree Completion in Tennessee + Tennessee Reconnect
Credential WV
Some College, No Degree — New Jersey Re-enrollment Initiative
Carnegie Math Pathways at WestEd
New Math Pathways for Adult Learners – Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) & New Classrooms
American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, Learning and Employment Records — White House & T3 Innovation Network
Overview On July 17, 2018, President Trump issued Executive Order 13845 which established the National Council for the American Worker (NCAW). This interagency council was charged with drafting a national […]
Impact Funders Forum (IFF) – Pew Charitable Trusts
Overview The Transforming Evidence Funders Network (TEFN) is a network of more than 80 philanthropies and public funding agencies that convene to catalyze collection action around work at the nexus of […]
HBCU Adult Learner Initiative (ALI)
Overview In fall 2021, Lumina Foundation awarded a $2 million grant to the HBCU Adult Learner Initiative (ALI) to identify and eliminate various barriers blocking adult students from the education […]
Work Forces Podcasts
Overview Work Forces is a bi-weekly podcast created in 2023 by J. Alssid Associates with a goal to revolutionize thinking about the future of work and learning. The podcasts engage […]
Credential Engine Initiative on Equity, Jobs Skills, and Pathways
Overview In July 2024, Credential Engine launched a 2-year initiative to expand education and employment information available as linked open data in the Credential Registry. The aim of this effort […]
Gallup Polls, Reports, & Partnerships
Overview Gallup Inc. is an American analytics and advisory company based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1935, the company became known for its public opinion polls conducted worldwide. In the […]
Beyond Transfer Policy Advisory Board (PAB)
Overview Funded by ECMC and facilitated by SOVA, the Beyond Transfer Policy Advisory Board (PAB) was launched in 2020 to advance the work of dismantling inequitable credit mobility and transfer […]
The Power of Systems Initiative – NASH
Overview The National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) manages a number of projects within its Power of Systems initiative launched in December 2021, and expanded in spring 2024. NASH […]
LER Accelerator
Overview The LER Accelerator was launched in 2024 with support from Walmart. The effort is boosting the adoption of Learning and Employment Records (LERs) in postsecondary education by focusing on […]
The Great Admissions Redesign – Lumina Foundation
Overview The Great Admissions Redesign is a grant-funded initiative of Lumina Foundation that responds to the evolving landscape of college admissions. In February 2024, Lumina announced the winners of its […]
Noncredit Research Collaborative
Overview Researchers from four universities (University of Michigan, University of California-Irvine, University of North Carolina – Charlotte, and Rutgers University) are partnering in the Noncredit Research Collaborative launched in early […]
Non-Degree Credentials Research Network (NCRN)
Overview The Non-Degree Credentials Research Network (NCRN) is a project funded through a grant from Lumina Foundation (2024-2025) and managed by researchers at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy […]
Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP)
Qualifications Frameworks (QFs)
Degrees When Due (DWD) – Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)
Overview Degrees When Due (DWD) was an initiative launched in 2018 by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) to help more than 200 participating institutions across more than 20 […]
Credit When It’s Due (CWID) – Reverse Transfer
Overview The Credit When It’s Due (CWID) initiative was a multi-foundation funded (6 foundations), multi-state (16 states) initiative aimed at increasing associate degree conferral for transfer students who meet associate […]
Credential Lab Service & Innovation Center – Higher Learning Commission
Overview The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) launched the Credential Lab in September 2023 with initial funding support from Lumina Foundation. The Credential Lab is a hub that supports educational providers, […]
Inventory of Community College Baccalaureate Degree Programs
Overview Currently, 25 states allow their community colleges by legislative action to offer some baccalaureate degrees: California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, […]
Foundations
Short-Term-Credential Typology (HCM Strategists)
Overview HCM Strategists (HCM), with support from Lumina Foundation, conducted a comprehensive examination of short-term credential pathways across the U.S. HCM analyzed all 50 states to create a catalog of […]
Job Quality Measurement Initiative & Good Jobs Initiative – U.S. Department of Labor Collaborative
Overview In April 2022, the Families and Workers Fund launched the Job Quality Measurement Initiative (JQMI) with the U.S. Department of Labor. The collaboration is supporting better measurement of the […]
Incremental Credentialing Framework
The Incremental Credential Framework was developed through a 2019-2021 planning, research, and testing project in a Lumina Foundation grant to SUNY Empire State College (Credential As You Go, Phase I). […]
Stackability Guide
Overview In February 2023, Education Strategy Group issued the Stackability Guide. The Guide is designed to help higher education leaders examine their internal processes related to stackability and provide guidance […]
Bendable (Lifelong Learning Platform) – Bendable Labs & Drucker Institute
Overview Bendable is a community-powered learning marketplace. It operates a lifelong learning platform that was established initially in 2020 to allow residents of all ages and backgrounds in South Bend, […]
Stronger Nation Report – Lumina Foundation
Overview In 2008, Lumina issued a national call for 60 percent of adults to have college degrees or other high-quality credentials beyond high school by 2025 to meet labor-market demand […]
Scaling Up College Completion Efforts for Student Success (SUCCESS) – MDRC
Overview Scaling Up College Completion Efforts for Student Success (SUCCESS) is an initiative launched in 2019 by MDRC. This work seeks to improve graduation rates for traditionally underserved students at […]
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW)
Program on Skills, Credentials & Workforce Policy (PSCWP), George Washington University
Industry Credentials & Education Performance Data System
Overview The National Student Clearinghouse launched the Industry Credentials and Education Performance Data System in February 2020. The new service brought together for the first time academic and industry credentials […]
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Overview The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and […]
Interstate Passport® (Transfer)
Overview Interstate Passport® is a national program based at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The program enables seamless block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on […]
Advancing Equity and Upward Mobility through Community College-Employer Partnerships (ACE-UP)
Overview Launched in 2023, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), with support from Lumina Foundation, convened 20-25 community colleges and their industry partners a community of practice, Advancing Community Equity […]
University Innovation Alliance
Lumina Foundation
Walmart Foundation / Walmart
Incremental Credential / Incremental Credentialing System / Incremental Credentialing Framework
Auto-award (Automatic)
Employer Partnerships With Education Providers
Competency Models, Skills Models & Learning Frameworks
Certification
Adult Learners: Second-chance Options, Accelerated Options
Competency-Based Job Descriptions
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Expanding the Learner Record: XLR Project
Overview Since 2015, AACRAO – working with Lumina Foundation, NASPA, NILOA, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 1EdTech, and other higher education organizations – has supported over 50 colleges and […]
Digital Learner Records – Comprehensive Learner Records
Overview The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Offices and NASPA: Association of Student Affairs Professionals partnered on a national pilot project between 2015-2017 to develop models for a […]
Industry Certification Education & Performance Data System Initiative
Overview In 2016, the National Student Clearinghouse, in partnership with the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Census Bureau, launched a project to collect, report, match, aggregate, and analyze […]
Credential As You Go
Overview The Credential As You Go initiative focuses on building an incremental credentialing system, recognizing the value in many types of quality credentials, including degrees, certificates, industry certifications, licenses, badges, […]
Certification-Degree Pathways Project (Workcred, UPCEA, APLU)
Overview Higher education faculty and staff are often unfamiliar with industry certifications. They likely do not know which certifications, when paired with an undergraduate degree (particularly one in the liberal […]
Racial Equity for Adult Credentials In Higher Education (REACH) Collaborative
Overview The Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Higher Education (REACH) Collaborative is a national initiative of Lumina Foundation. It focuses on creating pathways designed for Black, Hispanic, and Native […]