NSHE Selected for National Grant to Expand College Credit Opportunities for Real-World Experience

Nevada One of Two States Chosen for National Initiative to Advance Credit for Prior Learning

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has been awarded a $20,000 grant as part of a national initiative aimed at helping more students earn college credit for learning gained through work experience, military service, and other real-world settings.

The initiative, Constellation of Support: A Capacity-Building Approach to Institutional Change, is led by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and Student-Ready Strategies (SRS), with funding from the ECMC Foundation. NSHE is one of just two state systems in the country selected to participate, along with the state of Washington.

Through the three-year project, NSHE will expand Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) opportunities across its colleges and universities. CPL allows students to receive academic credit for demonstrated college-level knowledge and skills acquired outside the traditional classroom. This approach can help students complete degrees more quickly, reduce costs, and remove barriers for returning or nontraditional learners.

“This is about giving credit for valuable learning that happens beyond the classroom,” said Patricia Charlton, Interim Chancellor of NSHE. “Many students, especially adult learners and veterans, bring a wealth of experience to their education. This initiative helps us recognize that in a meaningful and rigorous way.”

The $20,000 capacity-building grant will support NSHE’s efforts to implement CPL more widely and consistently. Participating institutions will receive expert coaching, structured workshops, and access to a digital collaboration platform to support local implementation. NSHE’s system office will receive additional technical assistance to review and align policies that support consistent, student-friendly approaches to awarding prior learning credit.

“Credit for Prior Learning is a key strategy for making higher education more flexible, affordable, and responsive to today’s students,” said Daniel Archer, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at NSHE. “It helps students avoid repeating what they already know, reduces unnecessary coursework, and supports on-time graduation.”

“Recognizing and honoring learning that occurs outside of traditional classrooms is not only essential for valuing the real-world experiences of our students but also directly strengthens our local workforce,” said Natalie Brown, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Community Colleges at NSHE. “By translating prior learning into tangible credits, we help accelerate pathways to meaningful employment, meeting critical industry demands and fueling economic growth.”

This work builds on a priority established by the NSHE Board of Regents, which has emphasized the importance of Credit for Prior Learning as part of its systemwide strategic plan. The plan calls for the expansion of CPL policies and practices to improve access, recognize nontraditional learning, and better align credentials with workforce needs.

SHEEO and SRS will share key findings from the initiative in a public report at the conclusion of the project, offering lessons and models for other states.

To learn more about the Constellation of Support initiative, visit sheeo.org/project/constellation-of-support.

For media inquiries or additional information, please contact Elizabeth Callahan at ecallahan@nshe.nevada.edu or 702-522-7021.