Kaplan University Continues to Innovate, Receives Approval to Begin Offering Competency-based Programs

Business Administration and Information Technology Bachelor
Degrees Get Green Light from Regional Accreditor

DAVENPORT, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#cbe—Kaplan
University, long recognized as a leader in higher education
innovation, today announced that it has received approval from its
regional accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), to begin
offering competency-based education for two degree offerings—Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in
Information Technology (IT).

These are the first two degree programs structured around a new
competency-based model at Kaplan University.

Competency-based education (CBE) transitions away from the traditional
class room seat time format towards a more flexible structure that is
more self-paced, allowing students to progress as they demonstrate
mastery of academic content with the related competencies employers
want. Importantly, CBE enables students to learn and acquire job-focused
skills regardless of time or where learning takes place.

“A tremendous amount of thoughtful hard work goes into converting a
traditional credit-hour course model into a competency-based one,” said
Dr. Betty Vandenbosch, President of Kaplan University. In our unique
approach to CBE, which we expect will save our students both time and
money while preparing them for fulfilling careers in business and IT,
the entire programs are broken down into one-credit competency courses.
Students work on a number of one-credit courses, in sequence, within
each term with the help of actively engaged faculty members. This
provides clear direction, an appropriate structure, and additional
flexibility for our students.”

“This is another important step forward on our decade long continuing
journey with competency-based education, which helps further ensure our
graduates and their employers that they are job ready on day one,” said
Dr. Tom Boyd, Dean of Kaplan University’s School of Business and
Information Technology.

Kaplan University began working on competency-based approaches over a
decade ago.

By 2009, Kaplan University had identified specific competencies that
students must master in all its general education courses, becoming one
of the first universities to do this.

In 2010, the University introduced
assessments that measure students’ mastery of course-level
assessments and began breaking down courses into modules.

Kaplan University was selected in 2014 to participate in the Department
of Education’s Experimental Sites Initiative (ESI) which enabled it to
move still further down a competency-based path.

In 2015, Kaplan University became one of the first institutions to start
providing its students with personalized
competency reports that assess and document a student’s skill and
knowledge demonstrated throughout his or her program(s) of study at the
University.

About Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher
education. It strives to help adult students unlock their talent by
providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for
careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. The University, which
has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago,
is accredited by The
Higher Learning Commission. Kaplan University serves approximately
37,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 14 campuses
in Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Maine, Missouri and Wisconsin, and
a Kaplan University Learning Center in Maryland.

Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education LLC and Kaplan,
Inc., which serves over 1.2 million students globally each year through
its array of higher education, test preparation, professional education,
English-language training, university preparation, and K-12 offerings to
individuals, institutions, and businesses. Kaplan has operations in over
30 countries, employs more than 19,000 full- and part-time
professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with more
than 1,000 school districts, colleges, and universities, and over 2,600
corporations and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings
Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information,
please visit www.Kaplan.com.

Contacts

Kaplan University
Amy Hawkinson
Director, Public Relations
Office:
954-515-3603
Mobile: 773-301-6437
ahawkinson@kaplan.edu