College Unbound: A Regional Accreditation and Innovation Journey
Yes
10/2/2019 8:30 AM
10/2/2019 11:30 AM

​​ACE hosted a morning discussion in which we learned about responsible innovation from a case study on the 10-year accreditation journey of College Unbound. College Unbound is a unique institution designed for low-income adults who have started college but not finished. We welcome you to uncover this journey, which uses a blend of apprenticeship, high-impact practices, and student supports to help students achieve a bachelor’s degree.

​Socially responsible, mission-driven, and nonprofit i​nnovation is possible in American higher education—in fact, it should be the norm. Pulling off this innovation means fully engaging federal and state policy, as well as viewing regional accreditation as a learning process rather than a barrier.

We explored th​e innovation journey from all stakeholder perspectives and learned lessons for other institutions that want to innovate in meaningful ways to serve their students with quality, affordable higher education.

A College Unbound: Lessons on Innovation from a Student-Driven College's Journey Through Regional Accreditation
October 2, 2019
A College Unbound: Lessons on Innovation from a Student-Driven College's Journey Through Regional Accreditation
This case study report profiles College Unbound, an independent nonprofit institution that uses a flexible, student-driven academic model to serve low-income working adult students returning to earn their first degree.
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Speakers
David Bergeron
Senior Fellow for Postsecondary Education Policy, Center for American Progress
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David Bergeron - Senior Fellow for Postsecondary Education Policy, Center for American Progress - Panelist
Panelist
David Bergeron
Senior Fellow for Postsecondary Education Policy, Center for American Progress
Goldie Blumenstyk
Senior Writer, Chronicle of Higher Education
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Goldie Blumenstyk - Senior Writer, Chronicle of Higher Education - Moderator
Moderator
Goldie Blumenstyk
Senior Writer, Chronicle of Higher Education
Barbara Brittingham
President of the Commission, New England Commission of Higher Education
Barbara Brittingham - President of the Commission, New England Commission of Higher Education - Panelist
Panelist
Barbara Brittingham
President of the Commission, New England Commission of Higher Education
Adam Bush
Provost, College Unbound
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Adam Bush - Provost, College Unbound - Moderator
Moderator
Adam Bush
Provost, College Unbound
Haley Glover
Strategy Director, Lumina Foundation for Education
Haley Glover - Strategy Director, Lumina Foundation for Education - Speaker
Speaker
Haley Glover
Strategy Director, Lumina Foundation for Education
Dennis Littky
President, College Unbound
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Dennis Littky - President, College Unbound - Panelist
Panelist
Dennis Littky
President, College Unbound
Ted Mitchell
President
​​Former college president and top federal policymaker Ted Mitchell became president of the American Council on Education (ACE) on September 1, 2017.  Mitchell brings a wide array of experience and accomplishments from across the higher ...
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Ted Mitchell - President - Speaker
Speaker
Ted Mitchell
President
Lynn Pasquerella
President, Association of American Colleges and Universities
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Lynn Pasquerella - President, Association of American Colleges and Universities - Panelist
Panelist
Lynn Pasquerella
President, Association of American Colleges and Universities
Jim Purcell
Executive Director, The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE)
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Jim Purcell - Executive Director, The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) - Panelist
Panelist
Jim Purcell
Executive Director, The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE)
Jose Rodriguez
Assistant Director of Recruitment, College Unbound
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Jose Rodriguez - Assistant Director of Recruitment, College Unbound - Panelist
Panelist
Jose Rodriguez
Assistant Director of Recruitment, College Unbound
Yves Salomon-Fernández
President, Greenfield Community College
​​​
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Yves Salomon-Fernández - President, Greenfield Community College - Panelist
Panelist
Yves Salomon-Fernández
President, Greenfield Community College
Zulimar Vidal
Student, College Unbound, Class of 2019
Zulimar Vidal - Student, College Unbound, Class of 2019 - Panelist
Panelist
Zulimar Vidal
Student, College Unbound, Class of 2019
Agenda

8:30–8:50 a.m.—​​​Welcoming Remarks
Ted Mitchell, President, American Council on Education

8:50–9:10 a.m.—​​Student Stories
Students:
Zulimar Vidal, College Unbound, Class of 2019
Jose Rodriguez, College Unbound, Class of 2018

Moderator:
Adam Bush, Provost, College Unbound

9:10–9:30 a.m.—Case Study Summary
Louis Soares, Chief Learning and Innovation Officer, American Council on Education

9:30–10:20 a.m.—College Leaders Panel
Panelists:
Dennis Littky, President, College Unbound
Yves Salomon-Ferná​ndez, President, Greenfield Community College
Lynn Pasquerella, President, Association of American Colleges and Universities

Moderator:
Louis Soares, Chief Learning and Innovation Officer, American Council on Education

10:20–11:20 a.m.—Regulatory/Policy Panel
Panelists:
Barbara Brittingham, President of the Commission, New England Commission of Higher Education
David Bergeron, Senior Fellow for Postsecondary Education Policy, Center for American Progress
Jim Purcell, Executive Director, The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE)

Moderator:
Goldie Blumenstyk, Senior Writer, Chronicle of Higher Education

11:20–11:30 a.m.—Closing Remarks
Haley Glover, Strategy Director, Lumina Foundation for Education

Location

​​National Center for Higher Education
One Dupont Circle NW
Washington, DC 20036

​Directions to ACE and the National Center for Higher Education​

Registration Closed

This event took place on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the National Center for Higher Education.​