Rasmussen College Expands Competency-Based Education Model

Flex Choice® Competency-Based Education program model now available to Health and Wellness and Early Childhood Education Leadership Bachelor's students

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Rasmussen College

Jul 27, 2017, 11:52 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, July 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited* private college, recently expanded its Flex Choice^® Competency-Based Education (CBE) program model to two additional programs—the Health and Wellness and Early Childhood Education (ECE) Leadership Bachelor's degree-completion programs. The model, which first launched with the College's seven business Bachelor's degree-completion programs in Fall 2016, provides students with an efficient, relevant and flexible way to earn a college degree. The programs include competency-based education courses that allow students to earn credit for skills they already have while mastering the skills they need to complete their degree. Enrollment in both new programs is immediately available with classes beginning in August.

To learn more about the Rasmussen College Flex Choice CBE program model, please visit http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/flex-choice/.

Positive Feedback from CBE Students
Early feedback from CBE students has been positive, and enrollment is growing. The first competency-based education courses at Rasmussen College began in January. Approximately 500 students are currently enrolled in one or more CBE course, which is double the number of students first enrolled at the beginning of the year. The number of CBE courses completed has also tripled during that time. Rasmussen College expects continued enrollment growth in its competency-based education programs.

"Rasmussen College is committed to providing the best student experience possible, which is why we carefully and consistently evaluate all of our learning models to make sure they are a sound investment for both the College and our students," said Dr. Trenda Boyum-Breen, president, Rasmussen College. "We continue to gather survey and interview data from our CBE students in order to measure student satisfaction—in addition to learning and persistence data. We are seeing very positive results in our first six months of CBE programs. Students particularly value the faculty presence in the courses and how the Flex Choice CBE model provides both self-pacing and live collaboration with students and faculty."

Efficient Path to Advanced Degrees
The Rasmussen College Flex Choice CBE programs offer a mix of traditional and self-paced course options. Within both options, students engage with rich, interactive content while collaborating with faculty and fellow students to learn the course material. The self-paced CBE courses allow students to demonstrate skills they already have from either previous college or work experience by completing coursework that is project-based and reflects real-life work. In short, students can show what they know as soon as they know it—meaning student learning is measured by the demonstration of skills and competencies, rather than by hours spent in a classroom.

Students who enroll in a CBE course at Rasmussen College may also be eligible for the Learning Innovation Grant—saving them money on tuition.

"Rasmussen College is proud to expand our CBE model to additional programs with more expansions planned for the near future," said Brooks Doherty, assistant vice president of Academic Innovation at Rasmussen College. "We truly believe CBE is a compelling and in-demand option for providing high-quality, affordable and flexible learning options that prepare students to flourish in today's ever-changing and demanding world and workforce. While we are still in the early stages of our CBE program model, we are pleased to see students are performing at high rates as well as enjoying their experience. It is exciting to be among the handful of institutions helping to lead the advancement of competency-based education in the U.S."

*Higher Learning Commission: hlcommission.org or 800-621-7440

ABOUT RASMUSSEN COLLEGE:
Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college and Public Benefit Corporation that is dedicated to changing lives through high-demand educational programs and public service. Rasmussen College offers certificate and diploma programs through associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees online and across its 22 Midwest and Florida campuses in a supportive, student-centered and career-focused environment. Since 1900, Rasmussen College has been dedicated to being a primary contributor to the growth and development of the communities it serves. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Rasmussen College is committed to helping change lives through education and making a positive impact on society through public service and a variety of community-based initiatives. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit www.rasmussen.edu.