Four-year colleges and universities are slowly waking up to a new era in academic programming and credentialing that emphasizes short-term upskilling. However, the process may require an overhaul of some of our foundational systems, says Jeff Dinski, chief strategy and corporate development officer at Ellucian, on the “The University Business Podcast.”
“I think we’re going to see schools shift to more non-degree, continuing education courses. It’s not just because it meets the needs of the student; it’s also because it’s where the dollars are getting shifted to.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Walber (R-Ill.), the new chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, is squarely focused on upskilling the country’s workforce by bolstering training programs in the country’s most in-demand careers. He also champions the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which would expand Pell Grants on short-term postsecondary programs.
“Historically, many four-year schools have been somewhat detached from the job market, focusing more on traditional liberal arts education,” Dinski says. “However, this needs to change. Schools should train students for specific jobs that are in demand, which is a lesson that can be extended from the community college model.”
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Four-year colleges and universities must innovate in two distinct ways to recruit students into shorter credential programs. One is by streamlining transfer pathways to ensure no student is restricted from furthering their education. “That process isn’t always smooth right now. It’s broken in a lot of places,” Dinski says.
The second is discovering new ways to reward learners beyond the traditional degree. “It’s not only about supporting alternative forms of education, but how do we credential them? We’re totally at the tip of the iceberg.”
Ellucian is a higher education campus technology service provider that offers a variety of software suites that assist institutions with enrollment, retention, graduation rates and job placements. Before Ellucian, Dinski worked at Parchment, which focuses on transcripts and e-credentials.
