State Approaches to Short-term Postsecondary Credentials: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Gaps
WICHE released the report State Approaches to Short-term Postsecondary Credentials: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Gaps which explores how state policymakers engage with short-term postsecondary credentials, highlighting policy levers such as state authorization, consumer protections, financial aid, and quality standards.
This webinar recording shares key findings from the report regarding the fragmented landscape of oversight and funding, state-level examples of innovative approaches, and gaps where further policy and practice development could enhance workforce alignment and student outcomes. Panelists discuss how different actors — from workforce and economic development policymakers to institutional leaders — can think about leveraging their respective roles to ensure the burgeoning field of short-term postsecondary credentials is meeting the needs of students and states.
Moderator:
Phillip Oliff, Senior Officer, Student Loan Initiative, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Panelists:
- Marina Parr, Director for Workforce System Advancement, Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
- Lauren Schoenfeld, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Mark Gordon & Executive Director, Wyoming Innovation Partnership
- Christina Sedney, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
- Andrea Sisneros Wichman, Senior Director of Programs, CNM Ingenuity