The University of Wisconsin Flexible Option is an effective model to prepare students for a recovering economy

Abstract

AbstractCOVID‐19 has accelerated changes that were already underway in the American economy, such as the increasing displacement of workers by automation, the exponential evolution of industries due to technical advancements (the Fourth Industrial Revolution), and a widening skills gap and attainment deficit in the American workforce. As a result, adult workers and their employers will increasingly demand efficient, reputable, and customizable pathways to quickly reskill and upskill. This paper will use the UW Flexible Option as a case study for how traditional universities can build competency‐based programs to help adults rapidly meet changing workforce needs. The UW Flexible Option's design is an exemplar of wrap‐around support services; a flexible academic calendar; integrated and efficient curriculum design; effective assessment of competence against articulated learning outcomes; project‐based learning tied to workplace competencies; and tuition policies and financial aid delivery tailored to adult learners. The design will be explored through a case study of one of our programs, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Massive economic change will soon displace workers on a scale not yet seen, and higher education has a responsibility to ensure those individuals get back into the workforce with the appropriate skills. Institutions of higher education will need to innovate to rise to the occasion, and competency‐based education is one such pathway.