As certificate awards granted by public postsecondary institutions have expanded over the past 20 years, how has the faculty workforce changed?
Summary
Spurred by policy initiatives and student demand, certificate programs have proliferated nationally, currently accounting for about one out of every four postsecondary credentials awarded. Programs lasting less than a year have experienced particularly rapid growth, with many focused on helping students acquire workforce-relevant, discrete skills. Yet, the research evidence on non-degree credentials is relatively limited, despite a notable policy push to expand their availability. This paper evaluates how this trend is affecting higher education.
Key Insights
- The share of faculty on the tenure track, with a professorial title, has declined over time at the institutions studied.
- The number of certificates conferred by the public community college system substantially increased, whereas the number of associate degrees remained relatively flat.
- In institutions with more prominent certificate granting, faculty are less likely to be tenure track, have an advanced degree, or have a professorial title.
