Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Fifteen More Institutions Join ACE's Alternative Credit Consortium

  • 07/15/15

American Council on EducationWASHINGTON, DC – The American Council on Education (ACE) has announced that an additional 15 colleges and universities have joined the second wave of ACE's alternative credit consortium. The selected institutions have demonstrated a strong commitment to access and attainment, particularly in the area of serving non-traditional students.

The participating institutions are:

Ashford University (CA); Bellevue University (NE); Brandman University (CA); Colorado State University-Global Campus; Dallas Colleges Online/Dallas County Community College District (TX); Davenport University (MI); Franklin Pierce University (NH); Miami Dade College (FL); Monroe Community College (NY); Post University (CT); Sinclair Community College (OH); Stark State College (OH); University of New England (ME); Walden University (MN); Youngstown State University (OH).

ACE launched the alternative credit project in December 2014, with an initial selection of 25 colleges and universities, as part of an innovative initiative to create a more flexible pathway toward a college degree for millions of non-traditional students. ACE sought proposals for additional consortium members from two- and four-year institutions, public and private, ACE members and non-members.

"This project already is yielding enormous benefits, adding to our body of knowledge about the most effective ways to go about increasing the number of Americans able to earn a college degree or credential by using education, training and life experiences gained outside of a formal higher education classroom," says ACE President Molly Corbett Broad.

Participating colleges and universities in the consortium agree to accept all or most of the transfer credit sought by students who successfully complete courses that are part of a selected pool of about 100 low-cost or no-cost lower division general education online courses.

"We appreciate the commitment on the part of these institutions, and the ongoing commitment of our original consortium members to this work, which will help lead to the greater acceptance of alternative forms of credit in a way that ensures quality and encourages more people to complete their postsecondary education," says Deborah Seymour, ACE assistant vice president for education attainment and innovation.

ACE will be collecting anonymized data from participating institutions regarding the amount of credit each institution accepts through this project as well as progress and success rates of students who transfer in consortium-approved courses.

The project is made possible by a $1.89 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

For more information, email: [email protected].

Featured

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

    Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.