Competency-Based Education (CBE) is proposed as a model that can solve some of higher education's current challenges including the one size fits all approach to student learning. CBE targets this issue by focusing on a student autonomy and personalized learning approaches; however, successful implementation of this requires students have a level…

Originating in the 1970s, Competency-Based Education (CBE) deviated from traditional time-based benchmarks, emphasizing mastery of specific skills and competencies. Its initial adoption is mainly attributed to a response to a more traditional educational system that was heavily reliant on time-based (credit hour) benchmarks of success to indicate…

This qualitative case study investigates instructional faculty's perceptions of their agency, self-efficacy, and preparedness to personalize instruction in Competency-Based Education (CBE), a growing alternative to traditional higher education known for faster program completion. The study addresses a significant issue in the field -- as CBE…

Competency-based education that uses direct assessment in lieu of credit or clock hours as the measure of student learning is a relatively recent innovation in American higher education. Common features of these innovative programs include competency-based curriculum, authentic assessment, mastery learning, student self-pacing, federal financial…

There is a growing demand for online education; however, online programs yield consistently lower student retention rates and student success. Students in online programs are typically nontraditional students from underrepresented populations in higher education. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to determine whether…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the landscape of Competency-Based Education in institutions of higher education, and how these institutions have successfully implemented a new model into their existing structures. Interviews were conducted to explore the rationale, implementation strategies, and challenges at institutions…

To become an expert, it is typically accepted that one must learn a subject to accuracy. However, an alternate approach is to learn to fluency. Learning to fluency produces expert, competent performers. Previous studies have typically looked at the effects of learning to fluency for typically developing children and children with intellectual…

There is a growing trend of individuals coming to the university presidency from nontraditional/nonacademic pathways. However, current dialogue on the topic seems to be focused on the opinions or preferences associated with certain presidential career patterns or pathways with little emphasis being placed on what truly prepares individuals for…

Currently, there is an increase in competency-based education programs in higher education institutions in response to student and employer needs. However, research is lacking on effective practices for developing competencies, assessments, and learning resources for these programs. The purpose of this qualitative Delphi study was to gather expert…

Colleges facing pressures to increase student outcomes while reducing costs have shown an increasing interest in competency-based education (CBE) models. Regional accreditors created a joint policy on CBE evaluation. Two years later, through this grounded theory study, I sought to understand from experts the nature of this policy, its impact, and…

This research project was used to examine variables influencing preferred learning modes of online competency-based education (CBE) students registered in a Bachelor's of Organizational Leadership degree program at a traditional university in east Texas, using 4 learning modes (independent, instrumental, interactive, and collaborative). A…

As journalism educators wrestle to keep programs up-to-date in an evolving news landscape, there is value in understanding how education in an early form of multimedia journalism--photography--came to be. Little attention has been paid to the intersection of journalism education and photojournalism. This subject furnishes a unique perspective on…

With new and innovative efforts occurring within higher education, it is important to analyze these efforts. The purpose of this study was to examine competency-based education (CBE), and to improve and expand the research that exists related to CBE; while also describing a difference in degree completion proportion between CBE and the traditional…

The impact of peer-leadership programs on undergraduate students has been studied since the inception of higher education. Programs such as peer-mentoring, peer-counseling, and peer-advising are regularly used within the college environment as there are proven benefits to both student leaders and mentees. However, there is limited content on…

The American public's interests are well-served by a strong, effective postsecondary education system. And yet the industry's predominant learning and service paradigm, one that credentials learning by measuring student's time on task and that treats all learners largely the same from a pacing and a requirements perspective is inconsistent with…