Sova

As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, recognizing the diverse learning paths students take is more crucial than ever. The newly launched LEARN Commission (Learning Evaluation and Recognition for the Next Generation), by AACRAO and the Sova team, is tackling this challenge head-on. With more students entering college with prior learning—whether through work experience, dual enrollment, or returning after time off—how can institutions accurately evaluate and award credit for this learning? The LEARN Commission, which includes accreditors, higher ed organizations, and practitioners, is working to reshape policies and practices around credit transfer, credit for prior learning, and dual enrollment. The goal is a system that recognizes the full scope of learners' experiences and fosters greater equity and mobility. Some key takeaways from the Commission’s early work: -Focus on Learning Outcomes: The evaluation process must prioritize what learners know and can do, not where or how they learned it. -Systematic, Data-Informed Approaches: Better use of data and emerging technologies, like AI, can improve the speed, transparency, and fairness of credit evaluation processes. -Collaborative Solutions: Institutions cannot go it alone—coordinated, national-level strategies and policy investments are essential to build more equitable learning pathways. The LEARN Commission's work, supported by research and green papers from AACRAO, is ongoing through 2025. Read more from Juana Sánchez about the LEARN Commission in this week's #BeyondTransfer featured in Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/gWKsJAx7

Pooja Patel and Sandrine Fermino share exciting news for high school students in New York City this week's #BeyondTransfer featured in Inside Higher Ed: The CUNY T-Rex High School to CUNY site is now live, providing a game-changing resource to help students navigate the college credit transfer process. With dual enrollment programs like CUNY’s College Now, students can earn college credits in high school, gaining valuable exposure to college coursework and saving time and money. However, understanding how these credits apply to various degree programs can be challenging. The new CUNY T-Rex site bridges that gap by enabling students, families, and counselors to see how College Now, AP, and CLEP credits align with degree requirements at CUNY's 20 undergraduate colleges. Students can now make more informed choices about their education, maximizing the impact of the credits they’ve worked hard to earn. Beyond offering guidance on credit mobility, the site equips support systems with training resources, ensuring all students have access to valuable information for a successful transition to college. With this tool, CUNY K16 Initiatives is paving the way for greater college persistence and degree completion among NYC students. A big congratulations to The City University of New York K16 Initiatives team and its partners on this incredible launch ?? Read more: https://lnkd.in/eeKw-qd6

Sova's Marty J. Alvarado led a keynote discussion at the Oregon Community College Association Annual Meeting on modernizing higher education to address the rapid changes facing institutions. The conversation covered practical steps for integrating AI, adopting competency-based education, forging innovative partnerships, and modernizing policies, with a focus on cross-institutional collaboration to enhance student success and workforce readiness.

?? As the California State University prepares to develop its first systemwide strategic plan in more than 10 years, the university is seeking input from its stakeholders. The CSU and its Sova partners are offering?multiple opportunities for community members to provide feedback, through virtual town halls and by submitting input on the?strategic plan website. Register for an upcoming event: https://lnkd.in/gGAUPdfu Nov. 12, 2024, Tuesday @ 3pm - 4pm Nov. 13, 2024, Wednesday @ 12pm - 1pm Nov. 14, 2024, Thursday @ 9am - 10am Nov. 22, 2024, Friday @ 10am - 11am Dec. 4, 2024, Wednesday @ 9am - 10am Dec. 5, 2024, Thursday @ 3pm - 4pm Dec. 6, 2024, Friday @ 12 - 1pm

Navigating college transfers is challenging—but the SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) is working hard to make it smoother. Through the Statewide Transfer Task Force and Transfer Excellence Council, CHE collaborates with public, private, and technical institutions to streamline credit transfers and reduce barriers for students moving between colleges. Key Initiatives: -Transfer Excellence Convenings: An annual meeting to unite educators, administrators, and policymakers to address and solve transfer challenges. -Data-Driven Insights: Using CHE’s Transfer Outcomes Dashboard to track and improve student outcomes. -New Tools: Transfer Explorer (made in collaboration with Ithaka S+R), launching late 2024, offers students clear, accessible info on credit mobility. By fostering collaboration and creating practical tools, CHE is setting a new standard for transfer student success. Read more about a seamless transfer journey and a brighter academic future in this week's #BeyondTransfer blog featured in Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/evFxiJhv

Did you hear the rallying cry from Heather Adams and Dr. Seth Marc Kamen in this week's #BeyondTransfer? Transfer champions unite. Unite to: -Prioritize consistent, transfer-specific training -Strengthen networks and communities of practice focused on transfer -Integrate transfer expertise into broader institutional strategies -Advocate for resources and recognition of transfer as a specialized field and a high-impact practice -Collaborate across institutions, sectors and states to share best practices and innovative solutions. Transfer Nation, an online professional community with nearly 7,000 followers on various social media platforms, has a unique opportunity to unite this community. Read more in Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/exSsTRXQ

The #TacklingTransfer initiative website, curated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, HCM Strategists, and Sova, contains many actionable #Transfer resources. These resources can help institutions make scalable and measurable improvements in #CommunityCollege transfer, benefiting more learners from low-income backgrounds. Click the link to read more. https://lnkd.in/dH5Y7vQm #AscendiumEP #StreamlineTransitions #CreditMobility #SocialSeries

An Associate of Arts (A.A.) or an Associate of Science (A.S.) —heavy on general education but light on practical skills—often doesn’t prepare students for today’s workforce. In this week's #BeyondTransfer, Bridget Williams Golden shares how the Belmont University - Fast Forward program is helping to rethink how we guide students from education to workforce. By embracing innovative programs that align education with real-world opportunities this program is providing career pathways that lead to sustainable, well-paying jobs in key Tennessee industries. Read more in Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/gJf8GzFc

Sova's Lara Couturier joined George Railey, Jr. from Alamo Colleges District and David Deggs from the University of Texas at Arlington and a consultant to Educate Texas for a conversation yesterday at the Grantmakers for Education Annual Conference on advancing credit mobility and academic transfer through the Texas Transfer Alliance, hosted by Educate Texas. This statewide, cross-sector collaboration is driving the critical work of ensuring that all students in Texas can transfer high-quality learning into meaningful credentials and degrees, unlocking more equitable pathways to workforce success. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dCssi_i7

Do you know how students, faculty, and staff are using, or not using, the credit mobility tools at your college? Madeline Trimble and Pooja Patel detail Ithaka S+R’s research in this week's #BeyondTransfer highlighting how a diverse group of users is exploring credit transfer with CUNY Transfer Explorer (T-Rex). Read more: https://lnkd.in/eHB2vQ5q