The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has been awarded a $20,000 grant as part of a national initiative to help students earn college credit for learning gained through work experience, military service, and other real-world settings. The initiative, "Constellation of Support: A Capacity-Building Approach to Institutional Change," is led by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and Student-Ready Strategies (SRS), with funding from the ECMC Foundation. NSHE is one of two state systems selected to participate, alongside Washington.
Over three years, NSHE will expand Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) opportunities across its colleges and universities. CPL allows students to receive academic credit for demonstrated college-level knowledge and skills acquired outside traditional classrooms. This approach can expedite degree completion, reduce costs, and remove barriers for returning or nontraditional learners.
“This is about giving credit for valuable learning that happens beyond the classroom,” said Patricia Charlton, Interim Chancellor of NSHE. “Many students, especially adult learners and veterans, bring a wealth of experience to their education. This initiative helps us recognize that in a meaningful and rigorous way.”
The grant will support NSHE’s efforts to implement CPL more widely and consistently. Participating institutions will receive expert coaching, structured workshops, and access to a digital collaboration platform. Additionally, NSHE’s system office will get technical assistance to review policies supporting consistent approaches to awarding prior learning credit.
“Credit for Prior Learning is a key strategy for making higher education more flexible, affordable, and responsive to today’s students,” said Daniel Archer, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at NSHE. “It helps students avoid repeating what they already know reduces unnecessary coursework and supports on-time graduation.”
Natalie Brown, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Community Colleges at NSHE stated: “Recognizing and honoring learning that occurs outside of traditional classrooms is not only essential for valuing the real-world experiences of our students but also directly strengthens our local workforce.” She added that translating prior learning into credits accelerates pathways to employment meeting industry demands.
This effort aligns with priorities set by the NSHE Board of Regents within its strategic plan emphasizing CPL's importance in improving access recognizing nontraditional learning aligning credentials with workforce needs.
SHEEO and SRS plan to share findings from this initiative in a public report offering lessons models for other states.
For more information on the Constellation of Support initiative visit sheeo.org/project/constellation-of-support or contact Elizabeth Callahan at ecallahan@nshe.nevada.edu or 702-522-7021.