“As the largest institutional accreditor, we have directly witnessed the rapid expansion of alternative credentials and the confusion and questions about quality and return on investment that has resulted—both for colleges and universities and for learners,” says HLC President Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley, according to a press release. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is launching a new initiative to tackle the proliferation of alternative credential programs as higher education embraces new business models amid a changing landscape. HLC’s Credential Lab will begin developing, testing and applying a new assurance structure for colleges and universities in order to create a framework that analyzes the quality of credentials offered by third-party providers. The HLC accredits institutions in over 19 states.
