What is the yard stick of higher education? How do we measure and communicate the academic experience of our students?
For a variety of reasons, many professionals are questioning whether credit hours and grades in courses are a good representation of a student’s academic history and accomplishments. Moving away from the credit hour tradition brings up questions around:
- Record-keeping. How do we record their accomplishments, determine the veracity of their performance, and communicate their potential in an academic, public service or business environment in a meaningful way with others outside our institution?
- Alternatives. Does the credit hour enable us to capture learning outcomes, skills, competencies and experiences the student has acquired while enrolled in our schools? If not, what are the alternatives? How can we capture, verify, and record these alternatives in a meaningful way?
- Technology. How does technology help or hinder our ability to respond to these changing demands?
- Security. How do we insure the security and privacy of the new record?
- Standards. Do we need standards and who will set them?
As these questions suggest, our current approaches are facing no small amount of philosophical and practical uncertainty. We invite you to consider these issues at the AACRAO Technology and Transfer Conference luncheon plenary. Our distinguished panel of experts—which includes Tom Black of Stanford University and Matthew Pittinsky of Parchment, with AACRAO Executive Director Mike Reilly serving as moderator—will delineate the issues, prognosticate on the future, and discuss how potential changes may affect those who administer, secure, consume, and interpret academic records.
Register for the AACRAO Technology and Transfer Conference
If you are looking to improve your transfer practices, or if you apply technology to your work as a higher education professional, plan to attend AACRAO’s Technology and Transfer Conference (July 6-8 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL). The program will help practitioners follow best-practice guidelines and develop strategies for achieving mandated and desired outcomes. Registration is open and hotel reservations are being accepted. Register by the June 6 early bird deadline; fees will increase by $125 thereafter!