As skills-based hiring gains momentum, community colleges are stepping up to bridge the gap between education and career readiness. A new resource collection from ANSI-affiliate Workcred, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the League for Innovation in the Community College offers a roadmap for integrating associate degrees with industry certifications—what they call “C+D pathways”—to prepare students for living-wage careers.
The initiative, funded by a three-year ECMC Foundation grant, culminates in four in-depth case studies, a comprehensive playbook for colleges, a guidebook aligning C+D pathways with accreditation, recommendations for certification bodies, and an accompanying blog series.
Four colleges piloted the effort across IT and health science programs:
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Community College of Aurora: Behavioral Health credentialing pathways
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Kirkwood Community College: IT pathways
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Delta College: Credit-for-prior-learning pathways
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Moraine Valley Community College: Medical Coding and Health IT pathways
The goal: develop cost-effective, sustainable models that other institutions can replicate nationwide. Early results show students gain stackable, workforce-aligned credentials while employers benefit from a pipeline of skilled, job-ready talent.
“This three-year collaboration has produced actionable blueprints for transforming how community colleges prepare students for career success,” said Dr. Roy Swift, executive director of Workcred. “These resources can help colleges nationwide bridge the skills gap and strengthen local workforces.”
Dr. Rufus Glasper, president and CEO of the League for Innovation, emphasized the value of flexible, stackable credentialing. “C+D pathways empower students to earn meaningful credentials as they progress toward degrees, giving them a competitive edge in rapidly changing labor markets,” he said.
HLC President Dr. Barbara Gelman-Danley added, “This is a perfect example of aligning workforce needs with academic outcomes. Completing a full degree with integrated certifications enhances long-term quality of life for students while serving their communities.”
To showcase outcomes and share best practices, Workcred and partners will host a virtual event on October 15, highlighting successful C+D pathway integration.
By combining associate degrees with industry certifications, this initiative provides a clear roadmap for community colleges nationwide to prepare students for high-demand careers while helping employers close the skills gap—a true win-win for education and the workforce.
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