This four-part brief series explores the evolving ecosystem of college nondegree programs through a conceptual framework consisting of five interrelated domains. They represent key factors that shape how college nondegree programs are developed, delivered, and understood, and each is framed as a guiding question:
- Program Structure – What do the programs look like?
- Colleges and Universities – Who offers these programs?
- External Partners – Who else is involved?
- Policy Environment – How are the programs supported and regulated?
- Values and Outcomes – How is success measured?
The series is organized into four briefs, each addressing different aspects of the framework:
- Brief 1, “Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating College Nondegree Programs: Lessons from Five Institutions,” presents case studies of five colleges and universities, illustrating how nondegree programs are structured, implemented, and assessed in practice at the campus level.
- Brief 2, “Offering and Completing College Nondegree Programs: Trends in Public Data,” analyzes national data on program offerings and completions, highlighting patterns and trends over time and across institutions and sectors.
- Brief 3, “Shaping College Nondegree Programs: The Role of External Partners and Policy,” navigates how external actors, such as employers, technology providers, funders, researchers, and policymakers, influence program design, delivery, evaluation, regulation, and support.
- Brief 4, “Measuring the Outcomes of College Nondegree Programs: Value Across Stakeholders,” examines how outcomes are defined and measured, considering the value of nondegree programs for learners, institutions, employers, and society.
Together, the four briefs provide a multidimensional view of nondegree programs at colleges and universities. By integrating institutional experiences, public data, and analyses of external forces and outcomes, the series offers a comprehensive picture of the structures and dynamics that shape nondegree education within today’s higher education system.
