More Hot Topics in Higher Ed

Submitted by Thomas Skalko, PhD, LRT/CTRS, CAAHEP President

Other hot topics shared during the  Association for Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) meeting were proposals that are being discussed including a proposal by the Administration for rating colleges and universities on quality and value of an education; the use of gainful employment as a variable in the programmatic accreditation process; the implementation of competency-based innovations in education; and proposals to create state level alternative institutional accreditation options.  There seem to be a host of items on the radar with regard to higher education accreditation that impact both institutional and programmatic accreditors.  For programmatic accreditors, ASPA is actively engaged in representing the interests of the programmatic accrediting agencies.

With regard to innovations in education, competency-based education is one of the topics gaining traction.  Some universities are working through the logistics and implementing competency-based education for a host of degree programs.