Alverno College

American Sentinel
University

Antioch University

Argosy University

Austin Community
College District

Bellvue College

Big Sandy Community

& Technical College

Brandman University

Alverno College began working with CBE programs in the late 1960s, introducing their 1973
first CBE degree program in 1973 (Larsen McClarty & Gaertner, 2015; Council of
Independent Colleges, 2015; Klein-Collins, 2012). Alverno College is a Catholic
womens college founded by the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1887 (Alverno College,
n.d.; Council of Independent Colleges, 2015). . Initially, four global learning
competencies were created (Klein-Collins, 2012); these were expanded through further
discussion to eight core competencies (Klein-Collins, 2012; Larsen McClarty &
American Sentinel University has a competency-based MBA in Healthcare program for 2015
working professionals who already have a bachelors degree. Their program utilizes
online courses and project-based learning to demonstrate student achievements of
learning objectives (American Sentinel University, n.d.) Students complete 4 projects
Antioch University has two types of competency-based degree programs an MFA in
Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change. The university is currently
exploring additional competency-based degrees to expand nationally utilizing the name
of Antioch University Connected (online) (Competency-Based Education Network,
2015).
Argosy University offers a competency-based MBA program whereby working adults 2014
can test out of subject areas where learners can already prove their learning, enabling
learners to them focus on their need areas and accelerate their degree completion
(Argosy University, 2014). Argosy University was one of the first universities to apply
for approval of their MBA as a direct assessment program (Lacey & Murray, 2015).
Austin Community College District has created a competency-based degree program in 2013
Accelerated Programmer Training (APT) (Austin Community College District, 2015).
They have a model of CBE that they use for developmental mathematics courses, and
are exploring two new CBE programs in IT Career Academy and Career Expressways
(Austin Community College District, 2015).
The Institute for Business and Information Technology at Bellvue College enables
learners to accelerate through coursework for a certificate in Business Software
Specialist. Students work with student navigators and course instructors in support of
their self-paced progress, and a SmarterMeasure assessment is required for students to
ensure preparedness for the program (Bellvue College, n.d.).
Big Sandy Community & Technical College is one of the six Kentucky Community and 2011
Technical College System (KCTCS) who received a TAACCCT grant to expand
KCTCS Onlines Learn on Demand competency-based program into four additional IT
focus areas through Enhancing Programs for IT Certification (EPIC) (KCTCS Good
News Report, 2014).
Brandman University is a founding member of C-BEN, with Laurie Dodge co-chairing
the Steering Committee (Competency-Based Education Network, n.d.). Brandman
University separated from the Chapman University system to focus on adult learners
and their specific needs. Following two years of study and discussion, Brandman
launched their framework in 2011 (Klein-Collins, 2012). They have five specific
degree qualification areas as well as overall integrated knowledge and a disciplinary
skills requirement. The five qualification areas have aligned rubrics based on
AAC&Us Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE), (KleinCollins, 2012). The bachelor of business administration at Brandman University
enables learners to move through self-paced online courses with faculty mentors that
have 55-60 competencies which are crosswalked to 120 credit hours (Educause, 2014).

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Description of Program

Broward College

Bryant & Stratton

College

Capella University

Broward College offers and associate of science in Accelerated IT Training that will
2013
lead to technical and industry certifications. Academic coaches support students by
assisting in their goal development process and supporting their timeline and progress,
as well as intervening if challenges arise (Myers, 2014). They utilized a five-step
development process to create the curriculum within Desire2Learn, their LMS. As of
2014, 170 students were enrolled in the program (Myers, 2014).

Bryant & Stratton College has been approved for experimental site status. They are
n/a
currently getting ready to implement a PLA program and have recently begun planning
a CBE program. They are currently working on a framework for the CBE program
(Tarquino, personal communication, November 11, 2015).
Capella University was the second provider approved as a direct assessment
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experimental site (Silva, White & Toch, 2015). Their self-paced program called
FlexPath enables students to move as quickly as they can through the learning process
as long as they can demonstrate their skills and knowledge through assessments
(Capella University, n.d.). The program utilizes a subscription-based cost structure,
with students paying a flat quarterly fee to complete and prove as many competencies
as they can (Weise & Christensen, 2014).

Central New Mexico Community College launched their associate degree in Business 2014
Administration in October 2014. This CBE program is designed as a cohort whereby
students progress through their degree together in less than two years. Students are
assigned faculty mentors and achievement coaches and additional support services are
available. A liberal arts associates degree is being developed to launch in Fall 2015 that
will be fully online and CBE (Competency-Based Education Network, 2015).

Central Arizona College adopted the Competency-Based Education Action Project as a n/a
result of the challenges they were experiencing with their developmental education
outcomes. As part of this project they will redesign the developmental programs using
Central Arizona College competency-based modules, beginning with workforce programs and moving to
academic ones. Their Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning will lead the
pedagogical redesign of their developmental education curriculum (Central Arizona
College, 2014).
Central New Mexico
Community College

Central Wyoming
College
Charter Oak State
College

City University of
Seattle

Colorado State
University Global
Campus

Central Wyoming College was a 2014 participant in Educauses Breakthrough Models n/a
Incubator program through the Next Generation Learning Challenges (Central
Wyoming College, 2014). They are developing a CBE degree in simulation
technology; the college operates simulations for nursing and rural justice (Woods,
2014).
Charter Oak State College was established by the Connecticut legislature in 1973
(Brower, 2014). Degrees Without Boundaries was designed to meet the unique
needs of women who were returning to college. Credit-by-exam and prior learning
assessment enabled these underserved women to successfully complete degrees, with
instruction
beingofadded
in 1998.
With approximately
2,000 students,
the preparation
majority now 2001
City University
Seattles
CBE programs
surround teacher
certification
programs at the graduate level (Competency-Based Education Network, 2015). . Their
first performance-based degree exploration began over 14 years ago in this area
(CAEL, 2015). Graduate programs are offered in CBE formats for teaching,
&
curriculum and instruction, literacy specializations, special education and adult
2012
education. They also have programs at the undergraduate level with a B.A. in
Colorado State University Global Campus (CSU-Global) is an experimental site for 2015
federal financial aid in CBE. In their program, students access free learning materials
through a self-paced online environment. Students then take assessments for a fee in a
proctored environment and earn credit through examination (Colorado State University
Global Campus, 2015). Their program specifies courses in which students can
receive credit by examination, and they advise students planning to transfer to ensure
that the institution they are transferring to will accept the credit as credit earned that
way is noted on the students transcript (Colorado State University Global Campus,
n.d.). This program does not assign faculty or academic coaches to students, it is more
independently student-driven (Colorado State University Global Campus, n.d.).

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Columbia Basin College was one of eleven community colleges who worked with
2015
Western Governors University, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the U.S.
Department of labor to develop a CBE program. The college developed an Associates
in Arts and Sciences (AA) in Business (Columbia Basin College, 2014). Students
Columbia Basin College enroll during the first three months of any period, enabling them to be free of the
traditional semester system. CBE Completion Coaches are assigned to students in
addition to working with faculty, and their program is entirely online (Columbia Basin
College, 2014).
Community College of
Philadelphia

2015

2015

2015

2015

The CBE program at the Community College of Spokane is called Flex Tech. It is
specific to business, technology, and software programs. It enables students to gain
industry certifications. The program is self-paced and includes an instructor and a
student mentor; students can take courses online, hybrid, or on ground (Community
College of Spokane, n.d.).
Concordia University is a member of C-BEN and offers a Masters in Education with a
Concordia University
focus on Educational Technology that enables students to earn digital badges as they
(WI)
progress towards their degree (Sapiro, 2015).
Coppin State University is a member of the 2015 cohort for EDUCAUSE's
Coppin State University Breakthrough Models Incubator in order to develop a CBE program (EDUCAUSE,
2015).
Cuyahoga Community College is also a member of the 2015 cohort for EDUCAUSE's
Cuyahoga Community
Breakthrough Models Incubator in order to develop a CBE program (EDUCAUSE,
College
2015).
Danville Community College joined C-BEN in 2015. The College's CBE program
focuses on an Associate of Applied Science degree in either Electrical/Electronic or
Mechanical. Assessment of competencies are based on industry standards and
Danville Community
accepted field certifications. The College has also been accepted as an experimental
College
site (Competency-Based Education Network, 2016). Danville Community College was
the recipient of a $2.5 million dollar grant through the Department of Labor's
TAACCCT program in 2014 (Danville Community College, 2014).

Davis Applied
Technology College
DePaul University
Edmonds Community
College
El Centro College
Elizabethtown
Community and
Technical College

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Community College of Philidalphia participated in the CAEL Jump Start program,

2015
funded by the Lumina Foundation, in order to train faculty and administrators on
starting a CBE program. The goal internally for their institution was to expand on their
current efforts, which are active in three areas: the general education/core
competencies model, the applied studies program, and options for prior learning
assessment (Academically Speaking @CPP, 2015).

Community College of
Spokane

Davenport University

unknown A

X
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The Competency-based MBA (CMA) at Davenport University The Competency-Based unknown A

MBA (CMBA) utilizes direct assessment within the normal semester. It is self-paced,
incorporates transfer credit and PLA, and enables students to complete the degree in an
average of 20 months, with potential to complete in 12 months. There are 14
Professional Competencies and 1 Career Effectiveness Competencies organized into 84
content modules. Faculty coaches assist students in creating a customized learning plan
(Davenport University, 2016).

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DePaul Universitys School for New Learning (SNL) was established in 1972 as a
liberal arts-focused institution for working adults, age 24 and older (DePaul University,
2015; Klein-Collins, 2012). Still their largest degree is their Bachelor of Arts with
Individualized Focus Areas. It enrolls about 2,000 students. Their framework includes
50 competence (or competency) statements in three main areas: (1) Lifelong

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Empire State College

Excelsior College

Empire State College part of the SUNY system was established by the SUNY Board 1971
of Trustees in 1971 (SUNY Empire State College, 2015).
At Empire State College, co-developed learning contracts presumed that learners had
unique goals and interests and were active partners in the design of their own learning
(Benke, Davis, & Travers, 2012, p. 145). Empire State College also has a defined
process for implementing PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) in order to enable students
to obtain credit for prior learning, which can account for up to 75% of their bachelors
degree (Benke, Davis, & Travers, 2012 ; Laitinen, 2012; SUNY Empire State College,
2015). Empire State College has offered online courses since the 1980s (Laitinen,
2012), and is currently redefining and repositioning the college as an open
university in a digital age (Benke, Davis, & Travers, 2012, p. 146). Most recently the
college has innovated through the use of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses),
further expanding on their open philosophy; students could gain college credit for the
MOOC after paying a fee (Benke, Davis, & Travers, 2012).

Excelsior College is an example of an institute dedicated to CBE and founded during 1971
the previous investment period in CBE. It was founded in 1971 by the New York State
Board of Regents under the name of Regents External Degree Program or REX. The
Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation originally funded the creation of the
college, which in 1998 became a separate functioning private, nonprofit college.
Previously it had functioned as a program of the New York Board of Regents, and in
2001 it changed its name to Excelsior College (Excelsior College, 2015).