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LEARN Commission

The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and Sova are collaborating on the Learning Evaluation and Recognition for the Next Generation (LEARN) Commission, a new national effort to recognize undergraduate learning and improve credit evaluation policies and practices.

Composed of practitioner leaders, accreditors, and research experts from across the country, the LEARN Commission will recommend national guidelines to practitioners for recognizing undergraduate learning in all its forms and applying learning to credentials, with the intent of advancing learning mobility. 

To compete in a global economy, an increasing share of Americans are completing learning beyond a high school curriculum, moving effectively between high school, the workforce, college, and other training providers to access rigorous and relevant learning. However, as learners move across learning providers, recognition of their learning does not always move with them. For example, analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that learners lose 43% of their credits when they transfer across postsecondary institutions. 

The LEARN Commission will evaluate policies and practices for transferring and applying credit between accredited institutions, as well as policies and processes for recognizing credit earned from high school dual enrollment and learning obtained in the workplace and military. In these areas, the Commission will also assess the potential of new technologies to streamline credit evaluation processes, while eliminating human error and bias.

The work of the LEARN Commission is part of the Beyond Transfer initiative and is made possible with the generous support of the Ascendium Education Group. 

LEARN Commission Membership

  • Dr. Marjorie Dorimé-Williams, Sr. Research Associate, Postsecondary Policy, MDRC
  • Dr. Beth Doyle, Senior Vice President, Initiatives & Solutions, Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) 
  • Dr. Malou C. Harrison, Provost and designee of President Madeline Pumariega, Miami Dade College
  • Ms. Emily Kittrell, Assistant Director, National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS)
  • Dr. Samuel Lee, Chief Ambassador of the California MAP Initiative and Interim Vice President, Norco College
  • Dr. Alexandra W. Logue, Professor Emerita, Center for Advanced Study of Education at CUNY Graduate Center
  • Dr. Alexei Matveev, Director of Training and Research, Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges
  • Ms. Cassandra Moore, Director of Enrollment Development & Admissions, Anne Arundel Community College
  • Ms. Sarah C. Muller, Assistant Registrar - Transfer Credit Center, Ohio State University
  • Dr. Hironao Okahana, AVP for Research, American Council on Education (ACE)
  • Dr. Heather F. Perfetti, President, Middle States Commission on Higher Education 
  • Ms. Julia Pomerenk, Registrar and Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, University of Oregon
  • Dr. Carolyn Sherlet Gentle-Genitty, Dean of Founder's College, Butler University
  • Ms. Jamienne Studley, President, WASC Senior College and University Commission
  • Dr. Janie Valdés, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management & Services - FIU Connect4Success, Florida International University
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Learning Mobility In The News

AACRAO Releases

LER Accelerator and Learn & Work Ecosystem Library Announce Partnership to Develop Comprehensive LER Resource Collection

August 14, 2024
Innovative new resource hub aims to support the adoption and implementation of Learning and Employment Records (LERs) in postsecondary education.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Mike Simmons
Associate Executive Director,
Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
Communications@aacrao.org 

 

LER Accelerator and Learn & Work Ecosystem Library Announce Partnership to Develop Comprehensive LER Resource Collection

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 14, 2024) – The LER Accelerator, in partnership with the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library, is thrilled to announce the development of a new Special Collection dedicated to supporting the adoption and implementation of Learning and Employment Records (LERs) by institutions, educators, and employers.

About the Special Collection
The LER Accelerator Special Collection is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and effective credentialing ecosystem. The curated resources will include a wide range of materials that address the common challenges higher education institutions face in adopting LERs, such as:

  • Guidelines and Implementation Tools: Detailed resources to guide institutions through the development and adoption process.

  • Best Practices: Insights and strategies from successful implementations of LERs across various institutions.

  • Case Studies: Real-world examples demonstrating the positive impact of LERs on student outcomes, including learning, retention, graduation, and career success.

The collection will also focus on the policies, practices, and systems necessary to track learning outcomes, competencies, and skills.

Partnership with the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library
The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library is increasingly recognized for its innovative approach to collecting, curating, and coordinating resources that bring clarity to the learn-and-work ecosystem. The Library's digital platform, enhanced by the AI Library Assistant bot, ensures that users can easily access and navigate a wealth of information. This partnership aims to leverage these capabilities to support the LER Accelerator's mission of advancing the adoption of digital credentials in postsecondary education.

Key Features of the Special Collection:

  • AI-Powered Search and Assistance: The AI Library Assistant bot will aid users in finding relevant information quickly through conversational queries.

  • Comprehensive Resource Aggregation: The collection brings together resources from a wide range of contributors, ensuring a diverse and rich repository of information.

  • Collaborative Platform: The Library will facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, helping to share knowledge and drive innovation in credentialing.

LER Accelerator
The LER Accelerator project is supported by a coalition of leading national associations representing various college stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive approach to LER adoption:

Funded by Walmart, the coalition aims to address key challenges to LER adoption and implementation in higher education, such as unclear market demand for skill recognition, high administrative and technical barriers, disparate enterprise data systems, and outdated business models. The Special Collection will serve as a critical tool in overcoming these obstacles, providing stakeholders with the resources they need to facilitate the transition to digital credentials. 

“The LER Accelerator Coalition is excited to partner with the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library. This collaboration is crucial for enhancing our efforts to streamline and support the adoption of learning and employment records across postsecondary education. The Library's dedication to curating valuable resources and providing open access aligns perfectly with our mission to improve transparency, interoperability, and equity in the learn-and-work ecosystem. Together, we are committed to transforming education and workforce pathways to create an innovative, inclusive environment that empowers learners and enhances their educational and career outcomes.” - Melanie Gottlieb, AACRAO Executive Director, on behalf of the coalition

“The Learn & Work Ecosystem Library is well suited to house these valuable resources from the LER Accelerator Coalition in one easily accessible digital location. We can bring unique value-add to the collection by pulling in other related resources as well, opening the information flow about game changing efforts such as the LER Accelerator to many others working in this area.” - Holly Zanville, Learn & Work Ecosystem Library founder and team lead.

For more information, please contact: communications@aacrao.org

AACRAO
AACRAO IS A NON-PROFIT, VOLUNTARY, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MORE THAN 11,000 HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 2,600 INSTITUTIONS IN MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES. ITS COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MEMBERS INCLUDES BEST PRACTICE GUIDANCE ON ADMISSIONS STRATEGIES TO MEET INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY OBJECTIVES, DELIVERY OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS IN INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING STUDENT BODY, AND EXEMPLARY APPROACHES TO STUDENT RETENTION AND COMPLETION.

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