Student Credentials Affinity Group

Aligning your Program’s Credential Requirements to the Model Accreditation Standards
Date: February 2, 2023
Summary: This meeting was a facilitated discussion where program staff discussed accreditation standards and how they might align with their program or where they may have room for growth.

Credential Development
Date: November 29, 2022
Summary: At this meeting, attendees shares what they see as needs and tools in developing a credential in the field to inform future affinity group meetings.

Program of Study
Date: October 6, 2022
Summary: This meeting covered the necessary components for an inclusive postsecondary education Program of Study. Participants shared their experiences with creating a Program of Study, particularly related to Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP) status and student access to full time Pell grants. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress
Date: April 12, 2022
Summary: The group discussed the components of a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) plan, including important components for a CTP program SAP policy and how to balance those components. An example SAP was shared along with two advising/auditing sheets.

Colorado’s Portable IPSE Credential
Date: February 8, 2022
Presenter: Dr. Christi Kasa, University of Colorado
Summary: Presentation on Colorado’s portable credential available at 3 of Colorado’s IPSE programs. The process and philosophy behind this portable credential and the program of study it represents is provided. The presenters also share how the students are able to take courses for credit through a transcript designation of ‘modified course.’ A sample transcript is shared.

CAST e-Portfolio Tool
Date: December 14, 2021
Presenters: Sam Johnston and Cara Wojcik
Summary: Dr. Sam Johnston and Cara Wojcik from CAST shared an e-portfolio tool that CAST has developed, with, of course, a UDL framework. The tool allows educators to create "challenges" for students to complete, showing student learning in various competency areas. The tool is clean visually while still providing accessibility tools for students to ‘show their work" through speech to text, video, pictures, and text. Cara developed an example of how an IPSE program might use the efolio tool by uploading the Foundations Skills for College and Career Learning Plan and then creating individual folios for students to share with employers during or prior to a job interview.

A Credential Approval Journey
Date: September 8, 2021
Presenter: Dr. Kate Strater 2020 TPSID PI, Calvin University
Summary: Dr. Strater shares her journey through the University credential approval process. Kate’s work included not only starting a new inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program for 20 students at Calvin, but the realignment of established processes to CTP guidelines. While every IPSE program is unique, Dr. Strater outlined the governance process in establishing a new credential. There are many take-aways and great discussion!

Credential Development
Date: June 8, 2021
Summary: Dr. Becht shared 2 of 6 Credential Development Guidance Briefs developed in 2020 by the Florida Consortium on Inclusive Higher Education. At the time of product development programs of study examples were included from universities, state colleges, and career and technical colleges.

REACH Program
Date: August 12, 2020
Presenters: Mary Hauff, Lauren Bruno, Jennifer Cremers
Crossover meeting with Vocational Rehabilitation, Public Policy, and Student Credentials Affinity Group
Summary: The joint meeting of the Think College Vocational Rehabilitation, Public Policy, and Student Credentials Affinity Group. At this session, we welcomed three guest speakers, Mary Hauff, advocate and parent from Minnesota, and Lauren Bruno and Jennifer Cremers, University of Iowa REACH program, will share an overview of the program’s use of WorkKeys as a tool to increase access to evidence-based credentials earned by students with ID.

Florida Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership Journey
Date: April 1, 2020 | Crossover meeting w/ Public Policy & Vocational Rehab Affinity Groups
Summary: Kathy Becht shared an overview of the Florida Consortium on Inclusive Higher Education (a Transition and Postsecondary Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities/TPSID) experience building a working partnership between FCIHE and the state Vocational Rehabilitation agency in Florida

Send an email to thinkcollegeTA@gmail.com