Learn about the TRUE 2023 Grant Program, the Perkins Leadership Grant Program and other developing opportunities for funding that can support innovative workforce teaching and learning projects.

It takes a team to launch a new initiative in higher education, and that means every project needs some hype! Join the Dean of the Academic Incubator, a project-based department committed to launching and scaling new programs rapidly at Dallas College, as they discuss how to inform and generate excitement across departments in a large community college. Come get psyched for launching new programs and learn some strategies to have fun while doing it! 

Join Robert Bajor, Founder and CEO of Micro-credential Multiverse, for an engaging and insightful keynote at the Second Annual Digital Learning Summit hosted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This presentation offers a deep dive into the transformative role of micro-credentials in today's fast-evolving educational and employment landscapes. You'll also get an exclusive overview of the Micro-credential Learning Network, a pioneering initiative in Texas setting new standards for collaborative, skills-based education, and design. Developed for education leaders and practitioners, this session provides theoretical insights, strategic data, and actionable strategies for implementing micro-credentials in higher education.Don't miss this personalized opportunity to demystify the rapidly evolving world of micro-credentials while equipping yourself with the tools and insights you need to get your valuable programs off the ground.

Come and learn tips, best practices, and classroom mechanics for using Google Career Certificates in existing courses. A faculty expert from Dallas College will share their experience from piloting the IT Support Google Career Certificate in 2018 to the use of the certificate in multiple programs in 2023. Learn about how this expert has incentivized participation, tracked student progress, troubleshooted issues across platforms and more!  

AI-powered tools can assist in making online high-enrollment learning experiences more scalable by automating tasks such as discussion moderation and instructor grading, thereby freeing up time for other forms of interaction between instructors and students. In this presentation, we will showcase our recent research results on the fusion of AI-driven tools and human-guided interventions in online discussions, essay grading, and overall student literacy. These interventions aim to assist online conversations and the process of composing essays. Finally, we will cover potential challenges of AI and the impact of adopting responsible and creative learning strategies.

Debbie Cavalier, co-founder and CEO of Berklee Online, will take you through the history and evolution of the online school of Berklee College of Music, the preeminent institution of contemporary music, dance, and theater. Berklee Online is the largest and most celebrated online music school with 18k annual enrollments and a 97% student satisfaction rate.Since 2002, Debbie and her team have built Berklee Online into a worldwide music education powerhouse, with a diverse catalog where there’s something for everyone – from hobbyists to serious career musicians. Berklee Online provides a wealth of opportunities, including MOOCs in partnership with edX and Coursera, courses, undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in several majors. Debbie will share insight on building an award-winning curriculum featuring more than 250 instructor-led credit-bearing and non-credit courses forming stackable micro credentials that support a path for lifelong learning.

Transforming education through the development of a stackable portfolio of educational products is central to Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois’ promise to provide life changing access to business education. During this session, Gies leaders share how they have built a portfolio of educational products from MOOCs and micro- credentials to transcripted certificates and degrees that have expanded access and generated revenue to support continued growth.

Technology fields evolve rapidly, with innovation often being driven by the needs of business and industry. University-industry collaborations provide essential benefits to both sides of the partnership – helping ensure the currency of academic programs and providing expert training resources to businesses. This session provides examples and strategies for developing and sustaining credential-based university-industry partnerships in the field of data analytics.

Coursera Career Academy offers industry authored professional certificates in high growth digital jobs from top providers such as Google, IBM and Microsoft. This presentation introduces the Career Academy content and features, outlining its potential benefits to students, faculty, and institutions. Drawing on use cases from several North American Universities, it illustrates different approaches to leveraging Career Academy content into Credit & non-Credit academic courses and programs.

In 2018 Dallas College worked with Grow with Google to offer their first Google Career Certificate and has since launched over five certificates with over 1200 participants. In this session, leadership from Dallas College and Grow with Google will share their experience with implementing and launching Grow with Google Certificates at Dallas College. Participants in this session will learn about the mechanics of launching Grow with Google certificates within existing courses at the community college level and have the opportunity to discuss best practices with Grow with Google leadership. 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) has served higher education institutions across the country, supporting the launch of innovative programs that will help their students to get employed quickly and in fields that best match their skills and interests. One of their most recent projects has been launching and promoting the expansion of Google Career Certificates in community colleges across the country. Join leaders from JFF as they discuss these grant programs and the benefits of working with microcredentials such as Google Career Certificates. 

How did University of Wisconsin Milwaukee get it started? This session will guide participants through the process of developing an array of micro credentials, from policy to offerings. Strategies and resources will be identified to facilitate the steps toward implementation of micro credentials aimed at undergraduate, graduate and non-degree seeking learners to improve their employability while advancing toward a credential or degree. Topics to be addressed include policy development, market research, generating campus buy-in, the infrastructure needed to build out and sustain micro credentials, marketing, and evaluation.

As the Skills Lab celebrated its one year in existence, momentum and activity around micro-credentials expanded rapidly throughout a very large community college district of Hispanic-serving institutions. Leaders of the micro-credentialing strategy will describe the process they followed while innovation was diffusing rapidly. Some successes and opportunities for improvement will be shared, including their focused and funded effort to create a micro-credentials procedure guide. 

As a pioneer in micro-credentialing Madison College has drawn upon years of experience to create, define, and implement a digital badge strategy. This session will cover topics such as building pathways into programming from business and industry using micro-credentials, utilizing digital badges to verify employment skills that lead to certifications and eventually degrees, how faculty and staff are engaged with digital award ceremonies that recognize performance, using micro-credentials to acknowledge campus academic and athletic achievements, and strategies to increase and earn new revenue through micro-credentialing.

The closing panel of the 2023 Digital Learning Summit focused on the micro-credential ecosystem through conversation with student, faculty, institutional administrator, and workforce partners. Panel presenters explored the benefits of micro-credentials from these varied lenses as they look toward the future of Texas higher education and workforce. 

The Micro-Credentials Learning Network (MLN) was launched in June 2023 by the THECB Division of Digital Learning as a peer-led learning network that leveraged the expertise of Texas institutions to guide strategic development of new high-value, industry-aligned micro-credentials at selected community colleges. Hear about the MLN experience and expected outcomes of strategic planning from participants and get a sneak peek at the micro-credentials to be implemented!

Hear from one of the leaders of Transfer, Articulation, and Alternative Credit programs at Dallas College about her experience serving students entering college with work experience, life experience, and industry credentials that can be evaluated for college credit. Learn more about how Dallas College is working to serve students from all walks of life to provide an education that works. 

UPCEA has conducted a significant amount of research during 2022 and 2023. Micro-credentials and a stackable portfolio can play a major role in offsetting forecasted traditional student enrollment deficits that are a result of unfavorable demographics. Micro-credentials and a stackable portfolio can not only provide the new adult learner with an immediate, tangible, valued credential in a changing economy, but can also serve as an on-ramp towards earning a degree or credit-bearing certificate to help with longer-term goals. UPCEA’s research spans not only the new adult learner, but also employers and institutions. This presentation shows differences by learner segment regarding program and credential needs and communication preferences.

As the nation struggles to find qualified talent to fill the K12 teacher vacancies, micro credentials offer an innovative strategy to attract and retain talent in the field.  For entry level educators and those in need of additional support, micro credentials can offer a lifeline to school districts seeking to get and retain strong talent.  This session will focus on how to make this happen.