(via Jessica Jenner, Arizona State University)
The ACRL Digital Badge Interest Group will host a free webinar, featuring speakers Melissa Jimenez and Torrie Costantino from the Colorado Community College System. Titled “”Digital Badging: Bridging the gap between Non-Credit and Credit Credentials”, the webinar will take place on Wednesday, February 18, at 12:00 PM CDT. Please access the webinar here; no registration is required.
Description
In an evolving educational landscape, non-credit to credit opportunities via digital badges offers a promising pathway for lifelong learners, career changers, and professionals seeking upskilling. This session will provide a comprehensive approach to fostering non-credit to credit integration, utilizing credit for prior learning and digital badges, with a focus on the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). The session will explore innovative strategies, share success stories, and offer actionable insights for educators and administrators.
Presenters
Melissa Jimenez, MBA, is the Program Manager of Digital Badging and Credentialing at the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), where she directs the strategic development of a systemwide digital credentialing ecosystem. Melissa specializes in the strategic intersection of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and digital credentials. As a military veteran, she is deeply committed to advancing skills-first practices that remove systemic barriers for adult and nontraditional learners. Melissa spearheads efforts to expand verifiable, data-rich recognition of skills across Colorado’s 13 community colleges, ensuring learner competencies are portable and visible in a skills-based economy. She serves as the Co-Chair for UPCEA’s Council for Credential Innovation, collaborating with senior leaders to drive non-degree credential strategies that transform both higher education institutions and the talent marketplace, leveraging the Credly platform for data analytics and program evaluation.
Torrie Costantino is the Program Manager of Academic Affairs for the Colorado Skills Institute at the Colorado Community College System, where she leads all aspects of academic affairs, including curriculum, technical integrations, and market research for the non-credit marketplace. With over 10 years of experience working in higher education in student outreach and success, with her main focus in Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development, Torrie specializes in creating stackable pathways that benefit all learners. As a first-generation student, she is deeply committed to ensuring access to education that is affordable and accessible. She is currently working towards obtaining her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi.