Transferring occurs from one educational institution to another. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over a million students have transferred among colleges since 2015. Students can transfer from a community college or two-year program to a four-year college or university to graduate with both an associate and bachelor’s degree (this is called reverse transfer). Students can transfer in between all types of institutions – private, public, large, small, community, and research. Students can also transfer college credits from a high school dual-credit program to a two- or four-year program, and can use those credits toward their degree. Transfer includes the transition of credits from one institution to another, while still maintaining the value of those credits. Course articulation is an important part of that. Course articulation is the process of comparing the content of courses that are transferred between postsecondary institutions – one institution matches its courses or requirements to coursework completed at another institution. Transfer systems can be set up within states or systems. To make this process easier, some schools offer guaranteed transfer credit acceptance if students transfer from pre-approved schools.
According to EDUCAUSE, the domain refers to the functions and resources in education that enable faculty, staff, and students to communicate and collaborate with others on and off campus. Depending on the institution, services may include:
Wire and cable infrastructure for data, voice and/or video networks
Network, phone, and cable TV delivery and operation in residence halls
Digital signage systems
Emergency notification
E-mail for faculty, staff, or students
Calendaring
Communication and collaboration technologies (e.g., video and web conferencing, Listserv, SharePoint, shared web browsing, wiki, Google Docs, MS OneDrive)
Business process/systems analysis specific to this domain area
Technology research and development specific to this domain area
Management responsibilities (HR management, financial planning, project management, vendor contract management, etc.) for staff dedicated to this domain area
Staff affiliated with these functions (including administrative, clerical)
Hardware, software, and supplies affiliated with these functions
Services typically not included:
High-performance research network (e.g., Internet2, National LambdaRail) (generally falls with Research Computing Services)
Network behavior analysis (generally falls within Information Security)
Credential Management System (CMS) is a broad term that refers to the software used for issuing and managing credentials. Governments and other enterprises employ CMS software to issue and manage credentials using an array of devices, including laptop computers, smart cards, smartphones, and USB keys. (Wikipedia)
In the higher education and third-party credentialing arena, the term is commonly used to refer to integrated Credential Management Systems (Credential As You Go, Playbook on Technology-Integrated Credential Management). Integrated CMS use a comprehensive solution for managing a variety of credentials. The system streamlines the entire life cycle of credentialing—from a credential’s proposal and development to its issuance and verification. CMS operations typically include: conducting academic program reviews and documenting approvals; creating catalogs and marketing materials; processing learner applications; managing scheduling and enrollment; handling finances/billing; tracking individual learners’ progress; providing counseling/advising; conducting audits; issuing credentials; managing learner transcripts; facilitating graduation communications; and generating internal and external reports.
To support these operations, many credential providers rely on a variety of IT systems and applications. By leveraging systems effectively and ensuring their seamless integration, entities can streamline credential management processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve overall operational efficiency. The most commonly used systems and applications include:
Student Information Systems (SIS): Platforms used to store and manage learner data, including enrollment, academic records, and personal information.
Learning Management Systems (LMS): Platforms that facilitate online learning and course management, enabling institutions to deliver educational content, track learner progress, and assess performance.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Systems that help credential providers manage interactions with current and prospective learners and other stakeholders, including tracking communication, managing inquiries, and supporting enrollment processes.
Document Management Systems: Systems that provide a centralized repository for storing and organizing credential-related documents such as transcripts, certificates, and other supporting materials.
Financial Management Systems: Systems that handle financial transactions related to credential offerings, including billing, payment processing, and financial reporting.
Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS): Platforms that support employee management, including credential-related roles such as faculty and administrative staff.
Reporting and Analytics Tools: Tools that enable credential providers to generate insights from credential data, track performance, and make informed decisions.
Collaboration and Content Management System (CMS) tools: Tools that facilitate communication among stakeholders involved in the credentialing process, including websites, resources, email, messaging platforms, and project management software.
According to EDUCAUSE, refers to an institutional platform that provides electronic distribution of text, enabling students to access e-books/e-texts on mobile devices and offering additional features such as annotation, search across texts, and note sharing. Basic systems deliver existing packaged e-content; advanced systems enable collection, copyright clearance, and bundling of content similar to e-texts and e-coursepacks.
According to EDUCAUSE, refers to the functions and resources associated with and specific to supporting teaching and learning at higher education institutions. They often include:
Instructional technology support including instructional support staff (including technologists and designers); instructional technology used by faculty (including learning management system and support, e-portfolios, assessment systems; and collaboration tools, etc., and teaching and technology center staff
Learning management systems (homegrown or purchased)
Library systems
Technology systems to support student success (e.g., degree audit, advising center management, academic early alert system, etc.)
Classroom technology equipment and installation
Classroom and learning space support (including audio visual support)
Distance education, e-learning, online learning, and/or hybrid learning support and related technology
Business process/systems analysis specific to this domain area
Technology research and development specific to this domain area
Management responsibilities (HR management, financial planning, project management, vendor contract management, etc.) for staff dedicated to this domain area
Staff affiliated with these functions (including administrative, clerical)
Hardware, software, and supplies affiliated with these functions
They typically do not include:
Multimedia services (Support for design, production, and deployment of content in audio, still image, animation, video, and interactive formats, often in combination with text.) (often found in IT Support Services)
TV production and broadcasting (IT Support Services)
Desktop computing/endpoint computing (IT Support Services)
Specialized support centers (e.g., special center for multimedia production or centers that support use of specialized hardware or software) (IT Support Services)
IT Training and education including policy training and education; general user training and education and related staff (IT Support Services)
The Federal purpose license is a policy in existing federal regulations: “The Federal awarding agency reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the work for Federal purposes, and to authorize others to do so.”
A 2022 White House directive would make a change to this policy in response to calls for more open access expansion; i.e., making federally funded research freely available to the public immediately after publication of the research. If the directive goes forward, authors who use grant funding to produce research will be required to deposit their work into agency-designated public-access repositories as soon as it is published. That process would eliminate the current option for authors or their publishers to place a 12-month embargo on public access to government-funded research publications (rule in place since 2013). The purpose of lifting the embargo as described in the 2022 White House memo (known as the Nelson memo) is to promote “equity and advance the work of restoring the public’s trust in Government science, and to advance American scientific leadership.” These changes will impact authors, their institutions, and the offices that deal with research funding and grant compliance. Academic libraries, especially at doctoral-granting institutions, will play a key role in advancing open access through multiple pathways and engaging authors in scholarly publishing and research data management.
The Nelson memo calls for implementation of the policy change by 2026. Groups supporting the change include open-access advocates and library groups. They believe the change will provide grant recipients with a clear understanding of their obligations as authors and facilitate better compliance with funder requirements. Opponents include many members of Congress and many academic publishers who contend that the new policy would limit researchers’ ability to maintain control of their published work and would cut into the multi-billion-dollar academic publishing industry’s profit margins.
The current academic publishing industry’s business model relies on authors’ willingness to submit their work for free—or even pay to publish it—and the publisher’s ability to sell that research to academic libraries through expensive journal subscriptions. The Nelson memo raises a dilemma for publishers: determine how the industry can and should respond to increasing calls for open-access expansion by adapting their business models and aligning more closely with what authors and funding agencies want; or staying with the existing model that depends on retaining as much exclusive rights as they can for authors’ articles.
Refers to methods used to create, share, use, and manage the knowledge and information of an organization; and the technology that makes it possible to store, access, and update information. KM technology is a portal that links many databases together and enables the exploration of one or multiple sources simultaneously.
KM in the information-age requires an increasingly large proportion of the working population to consist of information workers. In this context, KM is a movement to create an information environment conducive to successful research and development—one that depends on extensive and deep open communication and information access that can be shared broadly across an organization.
Many organizations develop a knowledge management system to conduct their business efficiently and effectively. Common steps include: 1) knowledge creation; 2) organization of knowledge; 3) sharing of knowledge; 4) acting on knowledge; and 5) updating knowledge.
Main KM strategies include: 1) collecting and recording information (codification), 2) spreading information (dissemination), and 3) tailoring information to specific audiences (personalization). Most organizations with knowledge management systems use a blend of these strategies.
In the KM literature, knowledge is often categorized as:
Explicit—information or knowledge that is set out in tangible form; structured information easy to document, share, and learn from.
Implicit—information or knowledge that is not set out in tangible form but could be made explicit; the application of explicit knowledge.
Tacit—information or knowledge gained from experience or intuition.
According to EDUCAUSE, refers to a group of two or more colleges or universities—each with substantial autonomy and headed by a chief executive or operating officer—that fall under a single governing board served by a system chief executive officer who is not also the chief executive officer of any of the individual higher education institutions. Such a system is to be distinguished from a “flagship” campus with branch campuses and also from a group of campuses or systems, each with its own governing board, that is coordinated by some state body.
A measure that organizations use to assess the strength of their recruiting process. The new hire retention rate calculates the percentage of new hires (e.g., middle management, specialists, operational workers, office staff, senior management, executives) who are still employed at the business entity 12 months after accepting a job offer.
Refer to specialized higher education programs that are typically designed to cater to specific high-demand industries or unique interests. These programs are generally not widely available elsewhere.
Examples of nearly 30 niche programs offered by higher education institutions:
Automotive Restoration—Combining business and management skills, preparing students for careers in the automotive industry.
Esports Management—Electronic sports equip students with skills for jobs in game design, team management, and broadcasting areas.
Ceramic Engineering—Materials science with a focus on the artistic techniques of ceramics, preparing students for industries such as manufacturing, tech, and healthcare.
Industrial and Labor Relations—Blends economics, law, and social sciences to prepare students for human resources management, labor and industrial relations, and other careers.
Environmental Studies & Sustainability—Emphasizes sustainability and environmental studies that combine ecological science with social justice initiatives.
Human Ecology—Interdisciplinary field that blends social science, humanities, and natural science to prepare students for sustainability, conservation, and policymaking job roles.
Sustainable Agriculture—Regenerative farming practices and renewable energy program that prepare students with hands-on experience in wind, solar, and hydroelectric power generation.
Aerospace Engineering—Pathways to careers in aviation and space exploration.
Creative Writing for Entertainment—Tailored for students who want to write for film, television, video games, and other media, with a focus on blending storytelling with technical skills.
Optical Sciences and Engineering—Focuses on the science of light, optics, and photonics, equipping students with the skills to work in cutting-edge industries such as telecommunications, defense, and biomedical technology.
Game Design—Focus on programming and narrative design, providing students with the tools to work in the gaming industry.
Industrial Archaeology—Combines archaeology, history, anthropology, and engineering elements to preserve and interpret America’s industrial heritage such as the physical remains of industrial and technological activities (e.g., former mining sites and industrial complexes).
Craft Programs—Students learn techniques combined with contemporary applications and business skills in traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, fiber arts, and woodworking programs
Electric Vehicle Technology—EV systems, battery technology, and specialized diagnostics.
Therapeutic Recreation—Using recreational activities to improve the physical and mental health of individuals with disabilities or illnesses.
Packaging Science—The design, development, and sustainability of packaging materials, to prepare students for jobs in industries ranging from food to pharmaceuticals.
Adventure Education—Preparing students to lead outdoor expeditions and teach leadership skills through activities like rock climbing, kayaking, and wilderness survival.
Turfgrass Science—Combining agronomy, biology, and business to prepare for careers in golf course management, sports field maintenance, and lawn care.
Comic Art—For aspiring comic book artists, storytelling, illustration, and graphic novel creation.
Fermentation Science—Combining chemistry, biology, and entrepreneurship, with a focus on the science behind brewing beer, fermenting foods, and producing biofuels.
Viticulture & Oenology—The science of grape growing and winemaking, preparing students for careers in the wine industry.
Luthiery — String instrument repair and construction program.
Theme Park Engineering—Designing and engineering attractions for the entertainment industry, combining mechanical engineering with creative design.
Ecotourism—Focused on sustainable travel and outdoor recreation management.
Puppetry—Training in performance, design, and construction of puppets for theater, film, and television.
Citrus Science—Preparing for jobs in cultivation, management, and the business of citrus production.
Nautical Archaeology—Underwater archaeology, training students to explore and preserve shipwrecks and submerged cultural sites.
Space Law—Courses on space exploration and commercialization’s legal and regulatory aspects.
Mortuary Science—Combining science, ethics, and business management, preparing student for careers in mortuary science.
Refers to models that make government services more user-friendly, coordinated, and equitable. Many states have established “one door” models for public supports (also known as “no wrong door” or “single point of entry” systems). These models streamline access to various government services and programs via a centralized entry point. The approach simplifies the process for individuals and families seeking assistance, particularly those who may face barriers due to complex administrative systems, limited resources, or lack of knowledge about available services.
Key Features:
Single Entry Point: Individuals enter the system through one location (whether physical office, website, or phone line) where they can access multiple services, reducing the need for them to apply to each program separately.
Comprehensive Assessment: Holistic assessment is usually conducted to determine eligibility for various supports—such as housing assistance, food benefits (SNAP), healthcare (Medicaid), unemployment, or childcare—without requiring multiple forms and processes.
Cross-Agency Collaboration: Agencies and departments work together to integrate data systems and service delivery, ensuring individuals can seamlessly connect to all the programs they qualify for, regardless of which agency is administering the benefits.
Case Management and Follow-Up: Often includes case management services to ensure individuals not only receive benefits but also get support in navigating the system. This can include follow-up visits or calls to ensure services effectively meet client needs.
Technology Integration: Many systems use integrated technology platforms that allow different agencies to share data, making the process smoother for users and reducing redundancy in paperwork and applications.
Benefits:
Simplification: Reduces the complexity of accessing public services by offering a streamlined process.
Efficiency: Clients can receive multiple services more quickly without having to visit multiple offices or fill out numerous forms.
Increased Accessibility: Vulnerable populations, including low-income individuals, immigrants, and people with disabilities, benefit from easier access to a variety of programs.
Better Outcomes: Often leads to improved outcomes as individuals are more likely to receive the full range of supports they need, from financial assistance to healthcare and employment services.
Reduced Bureaucracy: For agencies, this approach can reduce administrative costs and duplication of effort.
Examples:
Colorado PEAK (Program Eligibility and Application Kit): Colorado offers an online “one door” system where residents can apply for food, cash, and medical benefits, as well as childcare assistance, through a single platform.
Michigan Bridges: Portal where residents can access multiple public assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, childcare, etc.) through one streamlined application and manage their benefits.
New York ACCESS HRA (Human Resources Administration): Platform allows residents to apply for food assistance, Medicaid, and other supports in one place.
Massachusetts “One-Stop Career Centers”: Provide access to various public support services, including unemployment insurance, job training, and related services.
California’s Health and Human Services No Wrong Door Program: Single entry point for health and social services to improve access to long-term services for older adults and people with disabilities.
Utah’s “one door” model for combined workforce and human services: Services are integrated under the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS), which includes programs such as health insurance, housing, refugee support and vocational rehabilitation. Utah emphasizes public benefits as part of a work-first approach where applicants work with a caseworker to navigate more than 50 federal and state-funded programs. The state operates locations in each county as part of single-state local area designation under the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. The model enables a unified statewide structure for service delivery which has created efficiencies in funding and improved customer service.
The detailed specifications in a credential management system shows how a technical system meets the needs of users and stakeholders. These typically describe how the system should work, what features and functions it should provide, and how it should integrate with other systems and tools.
As defined by the Velocity Network Foundation, in decentralized identity systems, a presentation is the act of showing credentials to a verifier. It involves selectively disclosing certain parts of a credential to prove authenticity without revealing more information than necessary, ensuring privacy-preserving verifications.
Refer to structures designed at the national, regional (groups of nations), and/or international levels to guide planning, implementation, and maintenance of education and training systems, particularly higher education systems. The term, qualifications, refers to the categories and descriptions of the levels of educational and vocational qualifications (the quality or accomplishment that makes someone suitable for a particular job or activity). When combined into a framework, the qualifications enable understanding and comparisons among the different qualifications. Levels within Qualifications Frameworks are often described by learning outcomes, skills, and knowledge that are aligned with the levels.
Qualifications Frameworks are used to:
Help create the conditions for consistency and transparency in educational and training systems operated within a nation, region, and/or globally.
Enable employers and educational institutions to assess and recognize qualifications, which in turn facilitate mobility and transferability across education and training pathways.
Enable individuals to learn the various levels of education and training which may be pertinent to their interests and plan their education and career pathways.
Create quality assurance indicators used by third-party groups established by governments and industries to provide checks and balances to educational and training systems. These may include reviewing the levels of Qualifications Frameworks, the learning outcomes at each level, the standards-setting approaches, and evidence of learner outcomes. Key to checks and balances is the determination of each qualification level (for example, what is a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 and why?)
The National Science Foundation’s Systems Research Networks and Smart and Connected Communities Programs are part of NSF’s portfolio of investments in interdisciplinary research that advance fundamental knowledge about urban, rural, and other communities and systems.
SRS Programs define sustainable regional systems as connected urban and rural systems, including all systems in between, designed with the goal of measurably advancing the equitable well-being of people and the planet. Regions are defined as networks of urban, rural, and all systems in between, that make up a dynamic, symbiotic system with complex social and physical interactions. Urban systems are geographical areas with a high concentration of human activity and interactions, embedded within multi-scale interdependent social, engineered, and natural systems. Rural systems are any settlements with population, housing, economic activity, or areas not in an urban geographical area.
S&CC Program defines a smart and connected community as a community that synergistically integrates intelligent technologies with the natural and built environments, including infrastructure, to improve the social, economic, and environmental well-being of those who live, work, or travel within it. Communities are defined as having geographically-delineated boundaries – such as towns, cities, counties, neighborhoods, community districts, rural areas, and tribal regions – consisting of various populations, with the structure and ability to engage in meaningful ways with proposed research activities.
Refers to a concept promulgated by the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), on behalf of its network of 51 higher education systems working collaboratively to address critical issues in higher education. The concept is founded in the recognition that systems working together are greater than the sum of their parts. The core of their commitment is to leverage their power to convene and facilitate, along with their governing and policy-making authority, to build collaborations to support students and campuses—rather than trying to mediate competitive actions.
Technology tools and systems are hardware tools which include computers, mobile devices, servers, networks, printers, and other physical components that enable technologies; and operating systems which include software that manages computing resources and runs applications.
Equity at the workplace refers to the fairness of organizational systems and the absence of systematic and persistent disparities in the opportunities and resources available to employees, regardless of their demographic and social identities.
