Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 15a - Public Education
Section 15g - Stackable Credentials

Section 15G. (a) The department of higher education shall assess stackable credentials offered at community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts campuses and, in collaboration with the public higher education institutions and regional workforce organizations, shall: (i) identify best practices to be shared and replicated across campuses to provide a clear and accessible path for students seeking to advance their education through workforce training and preparation; (ii) establish guidelines and standards for earning stackable credentials through workforce development or career and technical education; (iii) identify and implement stackable programs on campuses where further needs exist; and (iv) disseminate information on stackable education pathway opportunities with regional workforce agencies. For the purposes of this section, ''stackable credential'' shall mean a credential earned through an education, training or apprenticeship program while attending an institution of higher education which is designed to be part of a pathway for students that, along with other stackable credentials, cumulatively leads to a degree or industry specific skills certification. The department shall prioritize this effort in the areas of advanced manufacturing and information technology. The department may base credentials on competency, workforce or apprentice experience or workforce preparation. In developing criteria for credentials, the department shall consult with regional employment boards, career and technical education entities, community colleges, state universities, the University of Massachusetts, chambers of commerce, the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation doing business as the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and trade associations.
(b) Stackable credentials shall be available across the commonwealth and administered through public higher education institutions; provided, however, that public higher education institutions shall: (i) develop programs responsive to industry needs based on current regional labor market data; (ii) implement the programs in a manner that ensures interconnection of competencies offered in specialized training programs; and (iii) determine transferability of credentials for college credit.
(c) For the purposes of this section ''public higher education institutions'' shall include Quincy College.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth

Chapter 15a - Public Education

Section 1 - Policy and Goals

Section 3a - Statewide Educational Technology Plan; Goals; Development and Implementation

Section 4 - Board of Higher Education; Membership

Section 5 - Public Institutions of Higher Education System

Section 5a - Governor Foster Furcolo Community Colleges

Section 6 - Department of Higher Education; Commissioner; Other Employees; Appointments; Salaries; Powers and Duties

Section 7 - Mission Statements; Development, Approval and Adoption

Section 7a - Board of Higher Education; Performance Measurement System

Section 9 - Powers and Duties of Council

Section 9a - American Sign Language

Section 9b - Needs-Based Financial Assistance Program; Scholarships; Guidelines

Section 10 - Definitions

Section 11 - Council Actions Permitted to Aid and Contribute to Performances of Educational and Other Purposes of Community Colleges

Section 12 - Council Actions Permitted to Provide for Hefa Expenses and for Payments of Indebtedness Incurred on Behalf of Community Colleges or Affiliates

Section 13 - Hefa; Sale or Lease of Buildings, Lands or Other Property; Proceeds

Section 14 - Powers Under Secs. 11 and 12 Exercised on Behalf of University of Massachusetts and Affiliates

Section 15 - Estimate of Ordinary Maintenance and Revenues; Capital Outlay Requests; Allocation of Appropriations

Section 15b - Budget Cycle; Preparation and Submission of Budget Requests; Comments and Recommendations

Section 15c - Expenditures and Revenues; Management and Accounting Reporting System

Section 15d - Personnel Administrative Reporting and Information System

Section 15e - Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive and Capital Outlay Contribution Program; Matching Formula; Termination of Program

Section 15f - Community College Workforce Training Incentive Program

Section 15g - Stackable Credentials

Section 16 - Scholarship Programs; Guidelines

Section 17 - Teaching Learning Corps Program

Section 18 - Qualifying Student Health Insurance Programs; Participation; Compliance Procedures Report; Penalties for Noncompliance

Section 19 - Tuition and Fee Waiver Program; Guidelines; Annual Report

Section 191/2 - Tuition, Fees and Room and Board Waiver for Surviving Child of Parent Who Died as a Result of Injuries Sustained During Active and Full-Time Military Service While Outside the United States

Section 19a - Student Loan Repayment Program; Guidelines; Expenses for Administration

Section 19b - Teacher Signing Bonus Program; Regulations

Section 19c - Master Teacher Corps Program; Regulations

Section 19d - Scholarship Program Known as Tomorrow's Teachers Program; Guidelines

Section 19e - Principal and Superintendent Recruitment Program

Section 20 - Educational Opportunities Information Center

Section 21 - Board of Trustees for Sec. 5 Institutions; Membership; Qualifications; Tenure; Vacancies

Section 22 - Board of Trustees of Community Colleges or State Universities; Powers and Duties

Section 22a - Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center; Establishment; Powers and Duties of Board

Section 23 - Board of Trustees; Estimate for Institution's Ordinary Maintenance and Revenues

Section 24 - Board of Trustees; Authorized Purchases

Section 24a - Cooperative Purchasing; Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium

Section 25 - Refusal to Elect and Contract With Blind Teaching Candidates

Section 26 - Summer Sessions; Evening Classes

Section 27 - Dormitories; Nonsmoking Rooms; Rules and Regulations

Section 28 - Establishment and Maintenance of Bank Branch on Grounds of Public Higher Education Institutions

Section 29 - Definitions; Use of Student Fee Funds for Legislative Agents' Costs

Section 31 - Administrative Expenses; Determination of Qualifying Expenditures

Section 32 - Student Assessment System

Section 33 - Report Assessing Overall Faculty Productivity and Teacher Effectiveness

Section 34 - Benchmark Study of Public Higher Education System

Section 35 - Professional Development Schools Grant Program

Section 36 - Public Schools' Eligibility for Funds Through Professional Development Schools Grant Program

Section 37 - Foundations Created for Public Institutions of Higher Education; Governing Boards; Annual Reports; Audits

Section 38 - Military Recruiters; On-Campus Recruiting

Section 39 - Secondary Education Students Qualified to Enroll in Higher Education Institutions

Section 40 - Optional Retirement System; Providers; Regulations; Participation; Funds

Section 41 - Fees for Approval of Articles or Certificates; Revenue

Section 42 - Award of Academic Credit for Student's Military Occupation, Training, Coursework and Experience; Educational Credit for Exams Funded Through Department of Defense

Section 43 - Immunity From Academic or Financial Penalties for Postsecondary Students Performing Military Service on Behalf of the United States

Section 44 - Readmission Protections, Privileges and Immunities for Members of Armed Forces Attending Educational Institutions Within the Commonwealth; Calculation of Cumulative Length of Absence; Exemption From Academic or Financial Penalty

Section 45 - Establishment and Implementation of Comprehensive Training Program