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
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth
Chapter 15a - Public Education
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 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 13 - Hefa; Sale or Lease of Buildings, Lands or Other Property; Proceeds
Section 15c - Expenditures and Revenues; Management and Accounting Reporting System
Section 15d - Personnel Administrative Reporting and Information System
Section 15f - Community College Workforce Training Incentive Program
Section 15g - Stackable Credentials
Section 16 - Scholarship Programs; Guidelines
Section 17 - Teaching Learning Corps Program
Section 19 - Tuition and Fee Waiver Program; Guidelines; Annual Report
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 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 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 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 45 - Establishment and Implementation of Comprehensive Training Program