NMU Receives Grant for Competency-Based Education Options

Northern Michigan University has received an Innovation Investment Award of nearly $906,000 from the Michigan Center for Adult College Success to develop competency-based education options that will help adults-regardless of age or career status-obtain postsecondary credentials to secure jobs or advance professionally in a knowledge-based economy.

"It's an approach that aligns with the changing landscape of higher education and is meant to augment-not replace-the current system," said Steve VandenAvond, associate provost and dean of the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences. "We want to be an educational resource throughout each person's lifetime."

The funding will be directed in part to refining Northern's system for granting credit for prior learning through noncredit or work-based learning, and to creating additional non-credit microcredentials, or short courses focused on a particular skill.

"We are also developing and enhancing a badging system that allows us to offer digital certificates of completion," VandenAvond added. "Everything an individual learns in a credit course or noncredit workshop will be embedded in the badges. These credentials can be compiled into a comprehensive learner record so employers can view digital portfolios in making decision related to hiring or promotions."

NMU's Northern Promise program allows high school students to dual enroll in university courses and earn college credit, reducing the cost and time required to eventually obtain an NMU degree. But not all high school students enroll in college after graduation, so VandenAvond said NMU could also increase its emphasis on competency-based education within that age group.

"For example, the U.P. Cybersecurity Institute on campus offers access to industry credentials that allows people to go out and earn a $60K starting salary with a high school diploma and industry certification," he explained. "By building strong relationships with students of all ages, we are confident that when these students want to earn a degree, upskill through additional noncredit credentials, or switch careers, NMU will be their natural first choice. This system is focused on building strong, genuine, lifelong relationships with learners."

NMU's grant was one of nine awarded through the Michigan Center for Adult College Success' competitive $6.4 million Innovation Investment Awards program, which is funded by the Legislature.

The grants support bold advances toward Michigan's Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 51.1% today to 60% by 2030. An emphasis on students 25 and older is necessary due to population trends. The state cannot reach the 60% target without significantly increasing enrollment and college completion by adults.

"Congratulations to Northern Michigan University and all the grantees for recognizing that knowledge and skills are the currencies of the modern employment market," said Kevin Stotts, president of TalentFirst, which launched the center in 2023. "Employer demand for well-trained workers is only going to grow. Helping more adults obtain postsecondary credentials is how we open the door of opportunity for Michigan families."

"It is exciting to see how these grant proposals took systemic approaches to addressing the barriers adult learners face," added Jeremy Hendges, executive director of the center. "These evidence-based, innovative approaches are what we need in order to provide adults with a college environment that will support them in obtaining the degrees and credentials they need to succeed."

Learn more about the Innovation Investment Awards and see the full list of grantees at mcacs.talentfirst.net/news.