New Learner-Centered Digital Recordkeeping to Enhance, Streamline Professional Capabilities for Career-Ready Morgan State Grads

University Joins Inaugural Cohort in the Learning and Employment Record Accelerator Program to Optimize Secure, Skills-Based Academic and Career Credentialing

Baltimore — Through its participation in the new Learning and Employment Record (LER) Accelerator program—led by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)—Morgan State University is developing accessible digital credentials that better align students’ learning achievements with workforce needs. At the same time, the University is helping to build a comprehensive system for recognizing acquired skills in more meaningful ways. Morgan is one of just 25 institutions—including public and private universities, community colleges, and state systems—selected for the inaugural LER Accelerator cohort.

The program emphasizes universal accessibility, learner agency, and skills-based recognition. It prioritizes the documentation of student learning and skill acquisition in a way that makes this information easily available to stakeholders nationwide. This innovative approach empowers students to take control of their own data and ensures their competencies are acknowledged in ways that matter.

At Morgan, the initiative will be led by the Office of the Registrar and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies (CICS). The Office of the Registrar serves as the official custodian of academic records, while CICS offers degree programs designed for individuals who have previously earned college credits but have not yet completed a degree, helping them finish their education and advance professionally.

“Higher education is transforming and institutions must evolve with these changes. At Morgan State, we’re committed to reimagining how we capture and communicate student learning” stated Nicole Westrick, Ph.D., assistant vice president and dean of the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies at Morgan. “By embracing agile, learner-centered technologies, we’re ensuring that every student can showcase their full range of skills, knowledge, and abilities. This is not just for future employers, but to themselves and their communities. Our LER Accelerator participation supports not only career mobility, but also learning mobility and lifelong learning .”

The cohort of academic institutions will work collaboratively to address an issue many colleges face: the slow move to adopt digital credentials. These credentials include micro credentials and badges—forms of recognition that show employers what skills and knowledge a student has attained. Currently, many colleges are not fully prepared to meet the growing interest in these digital forms of proof of capability. 

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 75% of employers consider certificates from colleges and universities to be of higher quality than those offered by industry, company, or online providers. Adopting LERs addresses several inherent challenges in the traditional credentialing model, including unclear expectations from employers, difficulties in managing these systems, outdated technology, and business practices that do not support the development of new digital credentials.

“Joining the LER Accelerator underscores Morgan State University’s commitment to innovation in education and workforce readiness,” said Keisha Campbell, university registrar and executive director of the Office of the Registrar at Morgan. “By embracing the integration of Learning and Employment Records, we’re empowering our students with secure, accessible, and transparent ways to showcase their skills and accomplishments — bridging the gap between learning and career opportunities.”

Participants in the LER Accelerator Program were selected through a highly competitive process. A key factor in their selection was their demonstrated commitment to addressing challenges and leveraging LERs to create new opportunities. The program offers funding, technical assistance, and collaborative opportunities to help participating institutions develop and implement scalable LER strategies. The cohort will each work on a project that provides a unique perspective on education and job preparation, reflecting diverse experiences and backgrounds. Collectively, they will work towards creating practical solutions that benefit both learners and employers.

Over the next year, participants in the LER Accelerator will take part in a cohort-based planning initiative led by a coalition of national associations representing stakeholders across postsecondary education. Through structured planning and peer-to-peer learning, cohort members will explore innovative ways to recognize, document, and share students’ skills and learning through digital records.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Cheryl Stewart or Larry Jones,  for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022