Given changes in the 21st century workplace and expectations of employers, the notion that a bachelor's degree is the sole pathway to sustainable employment and a middle-class life in the United States has become obsolete. Many (e.g., Fleming, 2016) have argued that employers are now seeking employees with technical skills, digital literacy, and…

This study proposed a graduate curriculum for the preparation of community college chief administrators. The proposal was based on research findings obtained from four major sources: selected educational literature; descriptions of existing programs in selected colleges and universities; queries of board presidents of selected community colleges…

The present documents offers a 78-item annotated bibliography on the topic of nontraditional studies and special degree programs. The bibliography grew out of an interest in published materials on various ways of meeting the special learning needs of adults. Materials included are essays, speeches, magazine articles, and reports of persons who…

This paper, as the title suggests, presents a discussion of the dangers and possibilities of the external degree. There are 8 major dangers that widespread offering of external degrees might precipitate: (1) the deterioration of standards rather than quality education; (2) a proliferation of degrees that might debase the degree; (3) the use of the…

A review is given of the avenues currently available under California law for individuals or institutions to pursue "alternative" teacher certification procedures. An explanation is given of the nature of the District Intern Program, and how it can be used as an alternative credentialing path. (JD)

This discussion paper addresses the impact of major trends in certification and credentialing on community colleges. Most community colleges are familiar with traditional credentialing and certification. However, changes in the number of people seeking higher education as a means to a better economic future and the shifting skill requirements of…

This paper reviews the history of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, created in 1972 to meet the growing need for skilled child care workers to provide quality programs for young children in the United States. A pilot program was launched in 1974, leading to the granting of CDA credentials in 1975. Since 1976 over 60,000 CDA…

Results of a 13-item questionnaire mailed to Iona College graduates who had received "life experience" credits as part of their undergraduate degree are presented. The purpose of the study was to determine the acceptability of life-experience credits by graduate schools to improve advising and advocacy activities. (Author/LBH)

This document presents the data on degrees and certificates earned at the University of Hawaii Community Colleges during fiscal year 2001-02. The data presented are for the following community colleges: (1) Windward; (2) Hawaii; (3) Honolulu; (4) Kapi'olani; (5) Kaua'i; (6) Leeward; and (7) Maui. The data are presented in the format of tables and…

In this article, the contradictions of the Ph.D. are reviewed. It is suggested that there be numerous levels of degrees. Social change is outlined that would reward not only undergrads, but graduate students, and those now holding the Ph.D. (Author)

The formation and use of the Continuing Education Unit (CEU), a uniform nationally accepted unit that provides a mechanism by which most continuing education activities can be measured and recorded, was presented at the 1973 National Adult Education Association Conference. The unit, developed by the National Task Force in 1968 to determine the…

Adults often prefer self-directed learning over teacher-directed, classroom-oriented learning. They feel that their life experiences and self-initiated projects teach them more than they can learn in a formal classroom situation. Persons usually do not pursue such self-directed learning, however, because of conflicting role requirements, a lack of…

Analyzes recent occupational data and suggests that postsecondary educational credentials have varied effects on early-labor-force outcomes. Some credentials have greater value in the labor force than does an associate's degree, and their effects often differ for young men and for young women. Argues that this important data has often been…

Adults learn from many sources, such as volunteer work, community services, homemaking, jobs, and other activities, and they increasingly want this learning to be recognized so that they can reenter the job market, get a promotion, or return to college. Therefore, scientific methods have been developed to help adults document their experiential…

Central Michigan University's experiential learning program and the guidelines for awarding academic credit are described. Graduate students may apply for college credit on the basis of relevant skills which have been acquired as a result of their occupational, military, and personal experiences. The evaluators judge the student's application to…