EdAssist explores the pros and cons of non-degree programs, what’s attracting employees to choose this option, and why this alternative education trend should matter to you and your organization.

1. Non-Degree Programs:
Heroes orVillains?
Jill Lentz | Senior Manager, Education Network | EdAssist
Alan Robins | Director, Client Services | EdAssist

2. Workshop Objectives
 Understand the scale and diversity of non-degree programs
 Highlight the complex choices faced by your employees
 Real-life experiences from our clients
 Recommendations and questions for your organization
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3. © 2015 Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC

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5. © 2015 Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC

6. What are Non-Degree Programs?
 Boot Camps and Short
Courses
 Conferences & Continuing
Education Units (CEU’s)
 MOOC’s
 Certificates
 Certifications & Professional
Licensure
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Non-Degree
Programs
Degree
Programs
$ spent

7. © 2015 Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC
Certificates Certification
Results from taking classes in an
educational setting
Results from an assessment process
May not require professional
experience
Usually requires professional experience
Does not need ongoing requirements
Needs ongoing requirements to keep
credential
Listed on resume detailing education
Results in a designation to list after one’s
name
VS

8. TwoTypes of Certifications
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Professional Licensure Optional
 Always required to hold that job  Sometimes required by an employer
 Often granted by professional body  Granted by different institutions
 Institutions are non-accredited  Optional program-based accreditation
Examples:
Accountants
Architects
Electricians
Real Estate Brokers
Examples:
American Culinary Federation
Hazardous Materials Management
Human Resources
Microsoft

9. The Non-Degree Landscape
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Hype
# of employees
participating
CEU’s
Boot camps
and short
courses
MOOC’s
(Size of bubble
represents $ spent)
Conferences
Certificates
Certifications
(& Professional
Licensure)

10. Considering all the options
Elastigirl,
Project
Manager

11. Considering all the options
MBA with a specialization in Project Management
2 years; $22-65k
Elastigirl,
Project
Manager

12. Considering all the options
Elastigirl,
Project
Manager
Masters in Project Management
2 years; $19-50k
MBA in Project Management
2 years; $22-65k

13. Considering all the options
Elastigirl,
Project
Manager
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
1-2 years; $7-16k
Masters in Project Management
2 years; $19-50k
MBA in Project Management
2 years; $22-65k

14. Project Management Boot Camp
4-5 days; $2-3k
Considering all the options
Elastigirl,
Project
Manager
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
1-2 years; $7-16k
Masters in Project Management
2 years; $19-50k
MBA in Project Management
2 years; $22-65k

15. Considering all the options
Elastigirl,
Project
Manager
Masters in Project Management
2 years; $19-50k
Project Management Boot Camp
4-5 days; $2-3k
PMP Exam Prep
5 days - 11 weeks duration
$750 - $2,300
MBA in Project Management
2 years; $22-65k
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
1-2 years; $7-16k

16.  4-year
degree
 4,500 hours
leading
projects
 3 years
experience
 35 hours of
education
 Pass Exam
Elastigirl, PMP!
Project Management Boot Camp
Graduate Certificate in Project
Management
Masters in Project Management
PMP Exam Prep
MBA in Project Management
PMP
Cert.
PMP Requirements

17. WidelyVarying Quality Standards
NCCA – National Center
for Certifying Agencies
ANSI – American National
Standards Institute
ABSNC – Accreditation Board
for Specialty Nursing
Certifications
Works with 118 organizations Works with 51 organizations Works with 19 organizations
Has accredited 300 programs Has accredited 200 programs Has accredited 100 programs
Examples
Paralegals
American Culinary Federation
CFP
SPHR
Board of Certified Safety
Professionals
Examples
Project Management Institute
Cisco
Hazardous Materials
SHRM-CP
Board of Certified Safety
Professionals
Examples
Emergency Nursing
Infusion
Informatics Nursing
Nurse Practitioner
Oncology
Radiology

18. Managing Non-Degree Programs
Certificates Certifications
Yes No Yes No
Manager Approval Needed
Integrated withTuition
Program
Centralized Budget
Integration with Learning
Management System
Advice available for
employees

19. Takeaways
 Understand your company’s approach to funding non-
degree programs
 Begin to actively manage non-degree programs as an
element of your learning strategy
 Link to your HRIS/Talent Management System
 Understand your spend and negotiate discounts
 Focus first on certificates and certifications
 Help your employees navigate this confusing world

20. Coming Up!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
11:30-12:20 p.m. Learning Lab #4:Tuition Assistance Think
Tank
Unleashing the “M” Factor:
New Research on What Millennials Want atWork
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 12:00pm
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