We’re officially in Quarter 3 of the UNO+CBE Champion Project—our most intensive quarter to date. With the foundational blueprints and key decisions established in Q2, this phase shifts our focus from strategy to implementation. Across workgroups, teams are now building the essential systems and structures needed to bring CBE to life at UNO.
Top Priorities This Quarter Include:
Finalizing the learner journey and support model
Establishing the faculty model and academic policies
Drafting performance indicators and curriculum
Building initial systems and financial aid models
Developing the first round of marketing assets
Every workgroup is rolling up its sleeves. Thank you for continuing to lead this effort with energy and excellence!
Quarter 3: Design & Build
What is CBE @ UNO?
The UNO+CBE Champion Project: a groundbreaking initiative designed to build the vital infrastructure needed to support academic programs in offering CBE degree pathways. In collaboration with the Competency-based Education Network (C-BEN), we are leveraging national expertise to establish and sustain CBE at UNO. This ambitious project unites 85 dedicated champions from across our campus, organized into five specialized workgroups and a strategic steering committee. Together, they are crafting innovative recommendations to drive our mission forward.
CBE enhances our current student experience and programming at UNO by introducing an innovative learning pathway.
It empowers us to connect with students we might not be reaching or serving to our fullest potential.
Driven by our dedicated faculty, CBE programs are thoughtfully designed and crafted by the esteemed educators at UNO.
📰 C-BEN Spotlight: How Is Mastery Defined?
CBE is centered on mastery—but what does that mean in practice? Our national CBE consultant Dr. Ryan Specht-Boardman breaks it down in this recent C-BEN article, offering a thoughtful reflection on how postsecondary institutions define and measure mastery in competency-based models.
TED – ITL Pathway for Elementary Education (M.Ed.)
CBA – Executive Business Graduate Certificate
Next Steps for Academic Teams:
Complete first drafts of competency titles, definitions, and performance indicators by July 18
Send drafts to Ryan (C-BEN) for feedback: ryan@c-ben.org
Use reserved time on July 30–31 (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) for team-based revisions and planning
Develop learning journey outlines and prepare for course shell development this fall
A huge thanks to our faculty, instructional designers and technologists, and C-BEN partners who made this work possible!
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: Dr.Erin Bassstanding in forDr.Jaci Lindburg
Next Meeting: August 5
Update:The Steering Committee met on June 27 to review milestone progress, affirm academic planning models, and provide guidance on program development, timelines, and upcoming governance needs.
📌Key Discussion Points:
Program Development & Timeline
UNO remains on track for a Spring 2027 launch of its inaugural CBE programs, pending final alignment with internal governance processes.
Faculty-led curriculum development is progressing well, with strong engagement from CEHHS and CBA academic teams.
Teacher Education has restructured its initial proposals—with two new CBE-aligned master's pathways and an endorsement option.
The Executive Business Graduate Certificate from CBA is also in development and serves as one of UNO’s four inaugural CBE pathways.
Ongoing interest from CAS, CPACS, and IS&T was noted, with attention to resource constraints.
Curriculum Development & Ownership
The committee discussed the option of turnkey curriculum development via C-BEN, which would expedite timelines but involve additional cost.
Clarified that UNO would retain ownership of any externally developed CBE curriculum.
Academic & Learning Models
Reviewed and affirmed a 1:1:1 competency-to-credit-to-course model for CBE programs.
Key features include: • 72-hour feedback turnaround on summative assessments • Up to 3 attempts per summative assessment • Smaller, stackable 1-credit equivalent competencies to increase flexibility and support prior learning pathways
Academic Calendar & Governance
Reviewed draft CBE academic calendar, which builds in 5 start dates within a standard term structure.
Academic and Operations Workgroups will jointly bring a formal calendar proposal to the committee this fall.
Governance implications for modality changes (vs. new programs) are still under review; the CSW Hub will follow up with Academic Affairs leadership to clarify next steps.
✅ Working Decisions
CBE Learner Modeldeveloped by the academic workgroup affirmed.
UNO will adopt the Standard Term FSA academic calendar.
UNO will pursue course and credit-based CBE (not direct assessment).
Programs will follow a hybrid delivery model (online-first, with in-person elements as needed).
CSW Hub will serve as the administrative home for CBE programs.
Academic homes will remain in their respective colleges.
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.
Next Meeting: August28 Update: The Academic Workgroup has laid significant groundwork for the learner experience in UNO’s future CBE programs. While the group is off contract for the summer and will reconvene in August, their spring meetings yielded important progress on academic policies, grading models, instructional design expectations, and our institution’s first draft of a UNO CBE Learning Model.
📌 Q2 Highlights:
Developed a draft UNO CBE Learning Model, outlining how students progress, demonstrate mastery, and engage with content.
Recommended a scaled mastery rubric (e.g., Not Mastered, Mastered, Mastered with Distinction) over a binary model for more nuance.
Endorsed a policy of three summative assessment attempts, with 72-hour faculty feedback turnaround.
Proposed soft deadlines to support pacing while preserving flexibility.
Discussed design elements such as: • Pre-assessments to guide instruction (not exempt learners) • Direct evidence as the preferred standard for demonstrating mastery • Use of exemplars and rubrics to support transparency • Learning resources to rely primarily on open educational resources (OER) • Shared course blueprint and alignment to external quality frameworks
🎯 Q3 Preview: When meetings resume in August, the workgroup will:
Finalize faculty and instructional design models.
Support course shell development using the new CBE blueprint.
Provide input on learner support expectations (e.g., peer engagement, metacognitive practices).
Contribute policy guidance to inform governance submissions.
Next Meeting: July16 Update: The Operations Workgroup continues to design the technical and structural foundations needed to operationalize UNO’s CBE programs. With Q2 milestones nearly complete, the team is now turning toward vendor selection, system integration planning, and detailed calendar modeling—while also laying the groundwork for sustainable, scalable student support and enrollment systems.
📌 Q2 Highlights:
Finalized the Standard Term FSA academic calendar model and drafted a proposed 5-start-date CBE calendar for Steering Committee review.
Explored a proposed learner model featuring a 1:1:1 competency:credit:course ratio and its impact on Canvas, billing, and academic policy.
Discussed census reporting and graduate admissions system challenges related to multiple start dates.
🎯 Q3 Priorities:
Finalize IT systems map and student journey data flows.
Coordinate vendor demos across LMS, SIS, and CRM systems (e.g., Canvas, PeopleSoft, Salesforce).
Formalize catalog and calendar deadlines in partnership with Academic Affairs and Registrar’s Office.
Continue cross-workgroup planning on tuition models, coaching models, and academic support timelines.
Begin defining system requirements for student onboarding, registration, and financial aid alignment.
This team continues to lead critical systems planning while maintaining a sharp focus on innovation, feasibility, and cross-campus collaboration.
Next Meeting: July 8 Update: The Finance & HR Workgroup continues to explore how best to financially support and sustain UNO’s CBE portfolio. Their work is focused on identifying tuition and compensation models that prioritize flexibility, transparency, and alignment with existing systems—while setting up the infrastructure for future scaling.
📌Q2 Highlights:
Reviewed three core tuition models: per credit, banded, and subscription-based (Subscription was seen as most flexible but complex for billing and financial aid).
Discussed how UNO’s Executive MBA program could serve as a structural model for CBE (e.g., monthly billing, faculty overload model).
Explored faculty compensation structures, including overload models and revenue sharing.
Reviewed non-payment policies and systemwide hold practices across NU.
Discussed how to calculate program costs, map revenue streams, and project sustainability.
🎯 Q3 Priorities:
Identify the most viable tuition model for CBE (e.g., subscription vs. banded)
Begin Phase 2 of financial planning: estimating rates, projecting enrollment, and calculating break-even timelines.
Align budget modeling with academic calendar and course structure decisions.
Continue cross-workgroup collaboration on faculty workload models, to be addressed formally by the Academic Workgroup this fall.
Explore implications of cost structure on student communication, recruitment, and advising.
The Finance & HR team is laying the foundation for a transparent, scalable, and learner-aligned financial strategy—one that will support CBE innovation while remaining operationally sound.
Next Meeting: July18 Update: This quarter, the Student Affairs/Services Workgroup welcomed Jonathan Acosta as its new facilitator. Jonathan brings deep expertise in student development and advising, and we're grateful for his leadership as this team advances a proactive, learner-centered support model for CBE at UNO.
At the June meeting, the group continued refining early concepts for coaching, advising, and recruitment within a CBE structure—setting the stage for intensive Q3 work.
📌Q2 Highlights:
Reviewed findings from a campus-wide survey of student support services; results affirmed the need for greater flexibility, direct service access, and awareness among adult learners.
Began early design of the CBE coaching model, emphasizing low caseloads, proactive outreach, and clearly defined faculty-staff boundaries.
Discussed key functions of CBE coaches, including permission number management, academic planning, and use of scheduling tools (e.g., Salesforce, Calendly).
Started exploring implications of flexible pacing on advising and onboarding models.
🎯 Q3 Priorities:
Finalize the CBE learner journey map and use it to define coaching, onboarding, and support touchpoints.
Draft models for staffing, service delivery, and integration with existing systems.
Collaborate with other workgroups (e.g., Operations, Academic) to align coaching models with enrollment and course pacing structures.
Begin writing out job descriptions and workflow documentation for coaching and student services roles.
This team is building the foundation for a responsive, equity-driven student experience—and helping ensure that future CBE learners are met with guidance, empathy, and timely support every step of the way.
Next Meeting: July18 Update: The Marketing & Communications Workgroup has entered a pivotal stage—moving from behind-the-scenes planning to building visible, student-facing assets. With strategic direction affirmed by the Steering Committee, the team is now focused on testing naming options, crafting messaging, and preparing UNO’s CBE brand for launch.
📌 Q2 Highlights:
Conducted a comprehensive competitor analysis of national CBE programs, focusing on tuition models, program offerings, and messaging strategies.
Developed and refined a CBE brand naming survey to gather input from adult learners and prospective students—a key recommendation from SVC Phil He.
Refined branding-related survey questions with plans to launch broadly in July across institutional and partner channels.
🎯 Q3 Priorities:
Launch and analyze results from the CBE naming and branding survey.
Finalize brand identity recommendations and naming proposal for Steering Committee review.
Create a marketing plan for inaugural CBE programs, including value proposition and asset identification.
Build a website shell to support the branded UNO+CBE portfolio and learner experience.
Begin drafting the first wave of student-facing collateral, messaging templates, and campaign content in collaboration with Strategic Marketing.
📣 Help Shape the Brand—Take & Share the Survey! As a CBE Champion, your insight is incredibly valuable. We’re currently gathering feedback to help shape the branding and messaging strategy for UNO+CBE—and we want to hear from you and your networks.
We encourage you to complete the survey yourself as an adult learner if it applies—and more importantly, please share it widely across your personal and professional social circles. This includes community partners, friends, colleagues, and anyone connected to adult learning or workforce development.
📲 Need an easy way to share? The survey will be posted soon on the Online at UNO social media accounts. Be sure to like, share, and repost to help us reach more learners and ensure their voices are part of this important branding process.
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