Experimental College's First Graduate: Associate Degree in 100 days - Paul Fain, Inside Higher Ed

A groundbreaking form of competency-based education now has its Patient Zero. Zach Sherman, a 21-year-old sanitation worker in Ohio, earned a self-paced associate degree from College for America in early June -- just shy of 100 days after he enrolled in the online program. Sherman is the first completer among a group of five College for America students who have successfully earned its competency-based general studies degrees. Southern New Hampshire University launched the college in January. It is one of three institutions now offering “direct assessment” academic tracks, which are not based on the credit hour standard. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/08/16/new-form-competency-based-learnings-first-batch-graduates