March 19, 2025 | Volume 1 | Issue 1

• Quarter 1 Ends: March 31st
• Quarter 2 Begins: April 1st (April – June).

The Steering Committee continues to shape the strategic direction of CBE at UNO, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and national best practices. Below are the latest decisions and updates from the most recent meeting.

Facilitator: Jaci Lindburg

Next Meeting: March 31

 

Update: The Steering Committee recently engaged in a value proposition exercise, exploring UNO’s unique positioning in the competency-based education space. This exercise will help define the guiding principles and strategic direction for CBE at UNO. The outcome will be a high-level strategy/vision statement that articulates core values and informs the decisions of all workgroups​.

 

Key discussion points included:

• Balancing innovation with institutional readiness, ensuring CBE implementation is ambitious but realistic.
• Flexibility vs. structure—the committee acknowledged the importance of balancing learner agency with institutional constraints.
• Risk appetite assessment—concerns about federal regulation changes and operational complexities were discussed, leading to decisions that prioritize scalability and compliance.

Working Decisions & Affirmed Proposals

The Steering Committee affirmed two key proposals submitted by the Operations and Academic Workgroups:

 

✅ Decision on Course and Credit-Based vs. Direct Assessment CBE

• UNO will seek HLC accreditation for Course and Credit-Based CBE, which aligns with existing institutional structures and simplifies financial aid processes.

✅ Decision on Online, In-Person, or Hybrid Program Delivery

• UNO CBE programs will follow a hybrid model, ensuring that courses are online whenever possible, with in-person components only when required (e.g., practicums, labs)​.

Below you will find key updates from each workgroup. These updates summarize the most important discussions and progress across committees, ensuring all CBE Champions are aligned with developments from other groups.

Academic | Facilitator: Erin Bass

Next Meeting: March 27
Update: The academic workgroup finalized the program modality recommendation as hybrid, emphasizing online delivery with in-person components as needed (e.g., practicums)​. The team also recommended course/credit-based CBE over direct assessment, aligning with operational and financial aid perspectives​. Currently, the workgroup is working on a proposal template for academic departments to submit inaugural program proposals, with a focus on student demand, faculty resources, and curriculum mapping.

 

Operations | Facilitator: Stephanie Larsen

Next Meeting: March 28
Update: The team is working on a comprehensive IT systems audit, identifying key platforms that will need modifications for CBE implementation​. They are also researching FSA academic calendar options, including standard, non-standard, and subscription-based models. The goal is to determine the best fit for UNO while ensuring financial aid compliance​. A proposal on FSA calendar recommendation will be presented to the Steering Committee in Q2.

 

Finance/HR | Facilitator: Myah Lanoux-Nguyen

Next Meeting: March 25
Update: The finance team has confirmed that the initial CBE program launch is covered under the CSW Hub budget, meaning no additional funding is needed at this time. The group is setting long-term financial sustainability goals, with a target to become revenue-generating within 3-5 fiscal years after program launch. They are also defining the budget philosophy for CBE programs at UNO, considering options such as revenue-sharing models with academic departments .

 

Student Affairs/Services | Facilitator: Colton Janes

Next Meeting: March 28
Update: The workgroup has compiled an inventory of student services, mapping available support resources and identifying gaps specific to adult and online learners. A survey is being developed to gather insights from key stakeholders on enhancing student support for CBE students. The group is also reviewing best practices from other institutions and plans to draft preliminary recommendations by the next meeting.

 

Marketing/Communications | Facilitator: Moises Morales

Next Meeting: March 28
Update: The team is working on branding UNO’s CBE initiative, analyzing how other institutions market their CBE programs and exploring name options. This group will benefit greatly from the strategy statement that will come from the steering committee.