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Stackable Credential Pathways Initiative

Stackable Credential Pathways 

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 22-192 to improve access to quality credentials of value in the workplace and create greater alignment between credentials and work-based learning. The law mandates that CDHE work with other government agencies and stakeholders from industry, K12, and higher education to develop ten stackable credential pathways across five high-demand, high-growth industries by December 31, 2025.  The bill also authorizes the department to distribute General Fund and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars to institutions of higher education to support improved alignment and credential stackability.

Colorado’s 2021 Talent Pipeline Report on top jobs and critical industries helped inform CDHE’s focus on building stackable credential pathways in the following industries:

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cybersecurity
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Software Developer
Meet the Team
ALA

Allana Farley, Credential Pathways Coordinator

Allana leads efforts to build out stackable credentials in education, creating pathways to teacher licensure and address the teacher shortage in our state.  She has been with the department since February 2023. Allana brings over 10 years’ experience serving in both higher education and nonprofits developing workforce, employment training programs and providing academic and career guidance.  Allana is passionate about education and believes” that stackable credentials meet the needs of students and society.

Our Work

Source Legislation: SB 22-192: Opportunities for Credential Attainment

In 2022-23, CDHE disbursed $1.7 million in General Fund dollars to area community colleges, local college districts, and area technical colleges to support a higher number of students earning non-degree credentials, such as postsecondary certificates, apprenticeship certificates, professional licenses, or industry certifications.  These dollars can be used to support students who complete non-degree credentials that 1) are part of an industry-aligned pathway, 2) are associated with industries identified in the Talent Pipeline Report, 3) are stackable, and 4) address critical job shortages.

CDHE will distribute an additional $228,352 to the Colorado Community College System for staff support, training, and development of pathways between credential and academic programs. 

CDHE distributed $450,000 in Credential Pathways Technical Assistance Grants.  CDHE solicited requests from public institutions of higher education for funding to support the development of high-quality stackable nondegree credentials in high-value industries.  Funding was distributed to institutions of higher education as technical assistance grants to be used for faculty stipends, data infrastructure, cost of prior learning assessments, and contract support necessary for the development of high-quality stackable credential pathways leading to high-value occupations. Round One of funding is currently open.  See below to learn about our TA grantees.

News Release: Colorado Department of Higher Education approves technical assistance grant projects totaling more than $400,000 to build out stackable credentials 

2023 Stackable Credential Pathways Report on Opportunities for Credential Attainment

2024 Stackable Credential Pathways Report on Opportunities for Credential Attainment

If you are interested in participating in the stackable credential pathways work, please send an email for additional information.

Behavioral Health Stackable Credential Leadership Team Description and Membership

The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) behavioral health stackable credential leadership team is working to develop two stackable non-degree credential pathways for Colorado learner/earners interested in pursuing or advancing their career in behavioral health care. We are focused on building opportunities for learner/earners with industry certifications to receive college credit for the skills and competencies they possess. Our leadership team is comprised of employer and faculty subject matter experts as well as learners and partners from state agencies, industry, and advocacy organizations.  The leadership team meets monthly—every third Friday of the month from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining the leadership team, please send an email for additional information.

Leadership Team Organizations

Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation

The Attainment Network

Axis Health System

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Colorado Behavioral Health Administration

Colorado Behavioral Health Council

Colorado Community College System

Colorado Department of Education

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mountain College

Colorado State University

Colorado Succeeds

Colorado Workforce Development Council

Community College of Aurora

Community College of Denver

Credential As You Go

Colorado State University Pueblo Denver Public Schools

Envision Strategy Group

Firefly Autism

Governor's Office

Heath Care Policy and Financing

Metropolitan State University

NASW-CO

Pikes Peak State College

Pueblo Community College

Summit Stone Health

Trinidad State College

University of Colorado Denver

University of Northern Colorado

Western Colorado University

Cybersecurity Stackable Credential Leadership Team Description and Membership

The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) cybersecurity stackable credential leadership team is working to develop two stackable non-degree credential pathways for Colorado learner/earners interested in pursuing or advancing their career in Information Technology with an emphasis in cybersecurity. We are focused on building opportunities for learner/earners with industry certifications to receive college credit for the skills and competencies they possess. Our leadership team is comprised of employer and faculty subject matter experts as well as learners and partners from state agencies, industry, and advocacy organizations.  The leadership team meets monthly—every third Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining the leadership team, please send an email for additional information.

Leadership Team Organizations

ActivateWork

The Attainment Network

BurstIQ

Canvas Credit Union

CareerWise Colorado

College Board

Colorado Christian University

Colorado Community College System

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Colorado Mountain College

Colorado State University

Colorado State University Global

Colorado Technology Association

Community College of Denver

Credential As You Go

Data Nexus

Denver Public Schools  

Front Range Community College

Governor’s Office

Innovate+Educate

Lockheed Martin

Microsoft

Pikes Peak State College

Red Rocks Community College

Spark Mindset

University of Colorado Denver

University of Northern Colorado  

Education Stackable Credential Leadership Team Description and Membership

The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) education stackable credential leadership team is working to develop two stackable non-degree credential pathways for Colorado learner/earners interested in pursuing or advancing their career in Education. We are focused on expanding and building opportunities for learner/earners to earn credentials/certificates that can lead to teacher licensure. Our leadership team is comprised of employer and faculty subject matter experts as well as learners and partners from state agencies, school districts, early childhood education and advocacy organizations.  The leadership team meets monthly—every fourth Thursday of the month from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining the leadership team, please send an email for additional information.

Leadership Team Organizations

Adams City Middle School 

Adams State University 

Arapahoe Community College 

Association for Advancing Quality in Education Preparation  

The Attainment Network 

Aurora Public Schools 

Calhan School District RJ-1, TASCC LLC Ear

Career Wise Colorado 

CiviCO 

Colorado Christian University 

Colorado Community College System 

Colorado Department of Early Childhood 

Colorado Department of Education

Colorado Department of Higher Education 

Colorado Department of Human Services

Colorado Mesa University 

Colorado Mountain College 

Colorado State University Pueblo 

Colorado State University   

Colorado Succeeds 

Colorado Workforce Center-Rural Workforce 

Community College of Denver 

Credential As You Go 

Denver Public Schools 

Early Childhood Council of La Plata County

Early Connections Learning Centers

Efshar Project

Envision Strategy Group 

Front Range Community College 

Goodwill of Colorado 

Governor's Office 

Higher Education Resource Services 

MyLifeTrek, Inc. 

Maryville University

Poudre School District

Pueblo Community College

Red Rocks Community College 

Serve Colorado 

St. Vrain Valley School District 

Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Star Harbor 

Teach Colorado 

University of Colorado Boulder 

University of Colorado Colorado Springs 

University of Colorado Denver 

University of Denver 

University of Northern Colorado 

 

CDHE Education Contact

Allana Farley, MBA, GCFI

Credential Pathways Coordinator

Colorado Department of Higher Education

allana.farley@dhe.state.co.us

www.linkedin.com/in/allanafarley

Healthcare Stackable Credential Leadership Team Description and Membership

The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) healthcare stackable credential leadership team is working to develop two stackable non-degree credential pathways for Colorado learner/earners interested in pursuing or advancing their career in healthcare. We are focused on building opportunities for learner/earners to learn more about the pathways to nursing, diagnostic services, emergency medical services, and surgical services. Our leadership team is comprised of employer and faculty subject matter experts as well as learners and partners from state agencies, industry, and advocacy organizations.  The leadership team meets monthly—every third Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining the leadership team, please send an email for additional information.

Leadership Team Organizations

Aims Community College

The Attainment Network

Banner Health

Burst IQ

CareerWise Colorado

Colorado Commission on Family Medicine

Colorado Community College System

Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mountain College

Colorado State University

Colorado State University Global

Colorado Succeeds 

Community College of Aurora

Community College of Denver

Credential As You Go

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

Colorado Workforce Center

Envision Strategy Group

Front Range Community College

Governor’s Office

Hands to the Future

Innovate+Educate

National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement

Pueblo Community College

Red Rocks Community College

Technical College of the Rockies

Trailhead Institute

University of Northern Colorado

University of Colorado Anschutz

Software Developer Stackable Credential Leadership Team Description and Membership

The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) software developer stackable credential leadership team is working to develop two stackable non-degree credential pathways for Colorado learner/earners interested in pursuing or advancing their career in software developer. We are focused on building opportunities for learner/earners to learn more about the pathways to front end developer, back-end developer, full stack developer, and dev ops. Our leadership team is comprised of employer and faculty subject matter experts as well as learners and partners from state agencies, industry, and advocacy organizations.  The leadership team meets monthly—every third Tuesday of the month from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining the leadership team, please send an email for additional information.

Leadership Team Organizations

The Attainment Network

CareerWise Colorado

Colorado Christian University

Colorado Community College System

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Colorado State University

Colorado State University Global

Colorado Succeeds 

Community College of Denver

Credential As You Go

Data Nexus

DeNovo

Denver Public Schools

Governor’s Office

Ibotta

Indigo Project

Innovate+Educate

Jobcase

Lockheed Martin

Microsoft

Randa Solutions

Red Rocks Community College

Spark Mindset

University of Colorado Denver