On Dec. 3, the Detroit Regional Chamber and MichAuto, along with Education Strategy Group (ESG), convened the Credit Mobility Coalition at the Chamber to begin drafting an implementation plan for increasing transferability and credit mobility for students in the Detroit Region.
This work aims to standardize approaches for awarding credit for industry-recognized credentials and creating seamless, transfer-friendly pathways that empower learners to pursue educational and career opportunities in high-demand fields. This coalition’s first focus is on industry credentials and pathways for mobility or automotive industry careers.
This December meeting focused on outlining a strategic roadmap to implement key activities, define major milestones, anticipate potential challenges, and set specific success metrics.
Credit mobility encompasses a variety of institutional practices that award students’ college credit for learning experiences outside of the traditional classroom, such as an industry credentialing organization, a non-credit college program, or on the job.
The data is clear that credit mobility benefits both students and industry. By providing credit for quality prior learning experiences, students save money, save time, and are 17% more likely to graduate compared to their peers.
Additionally, learners awarded credit for past learning also reported feeling empowered by having their skills, competencies, and knowledge validated. Further, as the Chamber drives towards its Sixty by 30 goal, credit mobility is key for ensuring seamless pathways for learners to earn their degrees.
The Chamber recognized that we were uniquely positioned to lead this work for the Region by bringing together the Region’s colleges and universities to collaborate on statewide strategies to address the need.
The group will continue to meet monthly and focus on standardizing approaches for vetting credentials and creating a statewide benchmark for a “transfer-friendly” institution. I
For post-secondary partners wanting to get involved in the work, please get in touch with Amber Neher, the Chamber’s Director of Student Success and Postsecondary Partnerships, at aneher@detroitchamber.com.
For industry partners who want to learn more about the project and how their company can get involved, please get in touch with Maddie Thomas, MichAuto’s Talent Initiatives Specialist, at mthomas@michauto.com.