The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), an institutional accreditor serving colleges and universities in the United States and internationally, today announced the release of the Workforce Development & Non-Credit Playbook: Strategies for High-Quality Programming. Developed for both higher education institutions and third-party providers with support from the Lumina Foundation, the Playbook represents the culmination of several years of research and institutional engagement exploring how quality assurance can support the growing landscape of non-credit education, workforce development, micro credentials, and lifelong learning.

As colleges and universities increasingly expand opportunities beyond traditional degree programs, NECHE has emerged as a national leader in advancing thoughtful approaches to quality assurance for non-credit learning. The Playbook provides institutions with a practical, flexible framework for examining quality across areas such as design, agility, student learning and success, workforce relevance, governance, planning, learner support, and continuous improvement. Grounded in examples drawn from a wide range of institutions and programs, the resource is intended to support institutional reflection, innovation, and improvement while recognizing the diversity of offerings and organizational models. The Playbook also serves as a companion resource to NECHE’s emerging Recognition Process, which recognizes providers that demonstrate a commitment to high-quality, learner-centered, data-informed non-credit and professional education. Together, these initiatives reflect NECHE’s commitment to supporting institutions as they expand access to opportunity, respond to workforce needs, and create meaningful pathways for learners throughout their lives.

More information about the Playbook and NECHE’s Recognition process can be found here. For questions or additional information, please contact Laura M. Gambino, Vice President (lgambino@neche.org).