Member Matters February 2026

A Monthly Lookback at Some of the Good Work in the CAEL Membership Community

Extended Pathways

FoundationCCC, the official nonprofit partner to the California Community Colleges, provided an update on the Direct Assessment Competency-Based Education (CBE) Project. The multi-year, systemwide effort involves several pilot colleges and focuses on scaling direct-assessment CBE to “modernize and expand equitable pathways to degree completion across California’s community colleges” (FoundationCCC)

South Louisiana Community College and Loyola University New Orleans have completed a 2+2 articulation agreement. The pact ensures a seamless transition for SoLAcc students transferring to complete a bachelor of applied science at Loyola, where they enjoy a 50% discount on their first Loyola course, online adult learning (SoLAcc).

CPL opportunities at Athens State University are on the rise thanks to an agreement between Athens State University and several community colleges in North Alabama (WAFF).

The Community College of Vermont marked 50 years of offering a prior learning assessment program, which, on average, is saving students more than $8,000 in tuition an 1,000 classroom hours (CCV).

Proactive Partnerships

GTI Energy and McNeese State University are collaborating to create a post-baccalaureate certificate in LNG engineering to help incumbent, new, and future workers in the sector qualify to meeting rising workforce demand in Southwest Louisiana and along the U.S. Gulf Coast (McNeese State University).

James Madison University has launched "Bridge2AI," a program aimed at bringing AI opportunities to adult learners in underserved and rural communities Bridge2I features mentorships and real-world experience (JMU).

Indiana State University and myFootpath are partnering to help Comebackers return to complete a credential. The collaboration will draw upon myFootpath’s student data analysis and individualized coaching, supporting the university’s “[commitment] to expanding access and opportunity for adult and returning learners” (myFootpath).

Workforce development leaders, educators, and industry partners gathered at Luzerne County Community College for a workshop the college hosted with Amazon Web Services to support Northeastern Pennsylvania residents in advancing along career pathways in cloud computing and AI (WOLF).

Rocket Community Fund is supporting the Detroit Regional Chamber with a $1 million grant. The funding, awarded to the Chamber’s TalentEd initiative, is designed to remove "life barriers"—including food, housing, and transportation insecurity—hindering adult learners in completing credentials (Detroit Regional Chamber).

Lincoln Land Community College is partnering with financial services organizations to offer a community-centered digital literacy series through its Academy of Lifelong Learning (Lincoln Land Community College).

In Their Own Words

In a recently published white paper, University of Phoenix shared research results indicating that 92% of HR managers view credential programs that accept CPL are just as credible as traditional ones (University of Phoenix).