2026 UPCEA Annual Conference

From Idea to 22,000 Microcredentials: Syracuse’s Credit & Non-Credit Journey
Marlborough A | Credential Innovation | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Faculty, Graduate Education
Learn how Syracuse University built and scaled a university-wide microcredentialing program that now spans non-credit and credit-bearing offerings, including degrees and certificates. Leaders from the Office of Microcredentials will share their governance model, design framework, and expansion strategy — as well as how they’ve used analytics to measure engagement, prove ROI, and boost adoption. Attendees will gain practical ideas to improve governance, design, adoption, and measurement in their own programs.

• Arthur Thomas, Syracuse University
• Allison Roth, Syracuse University
• Dan Theckston, Accredible

Moderator: Susan Leighton, Villanova University

“Hire” Education: Turning Learning Pathways into Real-World Success
Grand Ballroom C | Credential Innovation | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Faculty, Graduate Education
How can colleges and universities more effectively connect learning to careers? This session highlights innovative strategies for aligning higher education with evolving workforce demands. Drawing on proven practices from institutions, employers, and workforce leaders, we’ll explore how to co-create education-to-employment pipelines that drive measurable outcomes. Participants will leave with actionable insights into leveraging Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) resources, engaging employers in program design, and building digital pathways that foster career readiness, mobility, and long-term success

• Suzanne Carbonaro, 1EdTech Consortium
• Ronnie Godshalk, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Marc Booker, University of Phoenix

Moderator: Hillary Dyer Brannon, University of South Carolina

Scaling Learning and Employment Records: Building Partner Ecosystems that Connect Credentials to Workforce
Churchill A | Credential Innovation | Strategic | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
Learning and Employment Records (LERs) are emerging as a framework to connect education with workforce needs. This session highlights two institutional approaches to building scalable LER partner ecosystems. Georgia Tech will share lessons from aligning non-degree digital credentials within its College of Lifetime Learning, including its taxonomy development, governance structures, and employer partnerships. Morgan State University, in collaboration with Territorium, will present a strategic model for integrating Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) into LERs, grounded in interoperability standards and focused on validating experiential learning. Together, these perspectives illustrate how institutions can build robust digital credential strategies that connect classroom, workplace, and lifelong learning.

• Keisha Campbell, Morgan State University
• Nicole Westrick, Morgan State University
• Keith Look, Territorium
• Veronica (Ronnie) Godshalk, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Eric Sembrat, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Dora Smith, Siemens

Moderator: Warren Goetzel, Georgia Institute of Technology

Connect, celebrate, and collaborate at the Network Lunch & Awards. Hosted by UPCEA Networks (Areas of Practice) and open to all attendees, this luncheon brings peers together to recognize excellence through Network Awards and strengthen connections across the UPCEA community. Select the Network that aligns with your professional focus.

Credential Innovation
Churchhill A
Join the Credential Innovation Network to connect with peers advancing flexible, skills-focused and learner-driven credentialing pathways and innovative solutions that expand lifelong learning and workforce development opportunities.

• Award Presentation: UPCEA Credential Innovation Award

Moderators:

• Alex Lowrie, University of California, Davis
• John McKenzie, UNT Health Fort Worth
• Amber Smallwood, UNT Health Fort Worth
• Elizabeth Davie, Creighton University
• Garrett Stern, Furman University
• Maria Simon, HRCI
• Saira Cooper, Rice University

Innovative Credentials: Strategic Pathways to Closing Workforce Gaps
Churchill C2 | Credential Innovation | Strategic | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
This panel brings together leaders from Purdue Global, the University of Vermont, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Arizona Global to discuss strategic approaches to credential innovation. We will explore how credit and non-credit programs are being developed to meet employer needs and align with institutional missions and strategies. The session will cover best practices and case studies on aligning programming with workforce demands, navigating policy, and fostering partnerships to scale digital credentials. A solutions-focused conversation will follow the panelists' initial remarks to engage participants in a discussion about overcoming common challenges in this evolving landscape.

• Maricel Lawrence, Purdue University Global
• Bryan Aylward, University of Arizona Global Campus
• Gloria Niles, University of Hawaii System
• Bettyjo Bouchey, University of Vermont

Moderator: Maricel Lawrence, Purdue University Global

Workforce Pell As Strategy: Preparing Programs, Policies, and People
Grand Ballroom D | Credential Innovation | Strategic | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
As Workforce Pell takes effect in July 2026, four-year institutions face both opportunity and urgency. The expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to short-term, workforce-aligned programs creates new access for learners — but only for institutions prepared to meet new eligibility and accountability requirements. This interactive workshop opens with a concise policy and programmatic update, including an introduction to UPCEA’s Workforce Pell Readiness Checklist, highlighting core preparation areas such as program design and labor-market alignment, data and outcomes reporting, governance and state engagement, student support, and financial aid readiness. Participants will then move into facilitated table conversations with members of the UPCEA Council for Credential Innovation to assess institutional readiness, share challenges and promising practices, and identify strategies for closing gaps. Discussion will focus on practical considerations, including aligning non-degree programs to Workforce Pell requirements, strengthening data infrastructure, and coordinating across campus units. The session will conclude with table report-outs and synthesis, leading to clear action steps. Attendees will leave with concrete ways to leverage UPCEA resources, engage partners, and position their institutions for successful Workforce Pell implementation.

• Julie Uranis, UPCEA
• Jordan DiMaggio, UPCEA

Moderator: Amy Heitzman, UPCEA

Integrating Industry Micro-Credentials with Academic Learning
Churchill C2 | Credential Innovation | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
Recent survey data highlights the significant impact micro-credentials can have on a graduate’s career prospects, helping them stand out in the application pool and increase starting salaries. In this session, discover how two institutions are each uniquely integrating industry micro-credentials into their curricula to provide students with crucial entry-level job skills. Join us to gain actionable insights into the strategies employed, as well as the best practices and learnings emerging from their experiences.

• Frank Tenkorang, University of Nebraska at Kearney
• Nicole Westrick, Morgan State University
• Jennifer Campbell, Coursera for Campus

Moderator: Ann Rapp, Lewis University

Roundtable Presentations
Grand Ballroom AB
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with up to two different topics during small-group, 30-minute, table-based guided discussion around a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and presenters will promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table’s attendees.

Moderator: Jessica DuPont, Oregon State University

Future-Proofing Talent: How AI Integration, Smart Content, and Credentialing Drive Workforce Readiness
Credential Innovation | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity
This session explores how to define and achieve learner success by balancing engagement, credential completion, and workforce readiness. It presents a holistic approach using AI-driven, competency-based learning to enhance outcomes, prioritizing not just program completion but real career preparedness. Attendees will discover innovative AI and interactive content strategies that boost engagement, provide personalized support, and align curricula with job market needs. Key takeaways include optimizing on-demand instruction, 24/7 support, credential issuance, and portfolio-building to increase learner confidence and employability.

• Desiree Young, IronCircle
• Casey Rothenburger, San Diego State University

Workforce Pell: What We Know, What We’re Testing, and What We’re Learning Together
Grand Ballroom D | Credential Innovation | Foundational |
As Workforce Pell Funding (WFP) continues to take shape, institutions are grappling with both its promise and its practical implications. This interactive session, hosted by the Credential Innovation Network (CIN), builds on recent national and leadership conversations to explore what we know so far, and what remains uncertain. Participants will hear a brief landscape update on WFP, including emerging considerations around pricing, eligibility, vulnerable learners, costing conversations, and measures of success. The session will then highlight examples from the field across a continuum of institutional readiness, from early exploration to active preparation. Designed as a peer-driven conversation, attendees will engage in table discussions to reflect on where their institution stands, what steps they are taking now, and what questions still need to be answered. Participants will leave with clearer context, practical insights from peers, and connections to continue the conversation through CIN leadership meetings, conference Ask-Me-Anything Conversations, and UPCEA engagement.

• Garrett Stern, Furman University
• Alex Lowrie, University of California, Davis
• Liz Davie, Creighton University
• Saira Cooper, Rice University

Moderator: John McKenzie, UNT Health Fort Worth

Stop & Share Presentations
Grand Ballroom AB
Attendees are invited to stop in, mill about, and engage in these dynamic, demonstration-type conversations hosted by presenters ready to share ideas on a hot topic, best practice, or technological innovation.

Moderator: Kelley Brandt, Boise State University

Creating a Framework for Offering Alternative Credentials at Mississippi State University
Credential Innovation | Foundational | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Policy, Faculty, Graduate Education
Mississippi State University is developing a structured framework for offering alternative credentials, ensuring consistency in creation, evaluation, and scalability. This presentation explores the research, methodology, and practical implementation behind designing a system that aligns with industry needs, supports workforce development, and enhances lifelong learning opportunities. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for integrating micro-credentials into higher education and how a well-defined framework can serve as a guiding model for institutions seeking to expand their credentialing strategies.

• Marian Montgomery Chancellor, Mississippi State University

From AI Hype to Impact: Co-Creating a Workforce Upskilling Model with Measurable ROI
Credential Innovation | Applied |
AI has transformed from a technical tool into a driving force for process improvement, reshaping operational excellence across industries. USF-CTPE recognized the need to integrate AI into its Operational Excellence Certificate but lacked bandwidth to meet employer demand. Partnering with Ziplines Education, we're creating a co-branded solution combining Ziplines' AI expertise with USF's established OPEX program. The result: AI-driven practical training that delivers measurable ROI—typically thousands in organizational impact per project. Join us for insights into this partnership and a blueprint other institutions can adapt.

• Mark Koulianos, University of South Florida
• Clayton Dean, Ziplines Education

Bridging the Divide: Designing a Faculty Credential for Online Teaching Excellence
Marlborough B | Credential Innovation | Applied | Tag(s): Engagement and Opportunity, Faculty
In response to growing demand for high-quality online instruction, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette launched Bridging the Divide: Statewide Faculty Credentialing for Online Teaching Excellence—a low-cost, scalable credential supported by the Louisiana Board of Regents. This session highlights the development and pilot of a four-course, self-paced program culminating in a capstone project and certificate. Presenters will share design strategies, pilot outcomes, and lessons learned from cross-institutional collaboration. Attendees will gain practical insights for developing competency-based credentials, supporting faculty development at scale, and leveraging partnerships to strengthen online teaching across institutions and regions. Ideal for academic leaders, designers, and faculty developers.

• Claire Arabie, University of Louisiana at Lafayette