Southern Connecticut State University has received its initial Recognition of High-Quality Non-Credit Programming from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), recognizing the quality of the university’s growing portfolio of workforce and lifelong learning opportunities.
The recognition, effective Sept. 24, 2026, follows NECHE’s review of Southern’s non-credit programming and the infrastructure developed through the university’s Office of Workforce and Lifelong Learning (OWLL).
NECHE found that Southern offers high-quality non-credit programming in accordance with its Recognition Quality Assurance Framework. In announcing its decision, the commission specifically praised OWLL for establishing a “mission-aligned, workforce-responsive infrastructure” that integrates academic quality, employer engagement, student support, and workforce development.
The recognition provides external validation of Southern’s work to expand access to education beyond traditional degree programs while responding to the changing needs of Connecticut’s workforce, employers, and communities. Southern is one of two universities in Connecticut that currently hold the distinction.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from NECHE because it gives learners and employers confidence in the quality of our non-credit programming,” said Amy Feest, senior director of OWLL. “Whether someone is preparing for a new career, building skills for a promotion or adding to their degree, they can trust that our programs are designed to provide relevant, high-quality learning experiences that lead to real-world results. For employers, it provides added assurance that the people we train are prepared with the skills they need to contribute.”
OWLL serves professionals, community members, alumni, students, and high school students through flexible educational pathways designed for learners at different stages of their lives and careers. Its offerings include non-credit certificates, microcredentials, digital badges, and credit for prior learning, creating multiple entry points to higher education, professional development, and career advancement.
For adult learners, those opportunities can provide a pathway to reskill or upskill for a new career, while traditional-age students can pursue additional skills and areas of interest alongside their academic programs.
That approach was reflected in NECHE’s evaluation, which highlighted Southern’s program design, student support ecosystem, employer and community partnerships, workforce-responsive innovation, pathways between non-credit and credit-bearing education, and strong institutional support for non-credit programming.
Southern is the second university in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system to earn NECHE’s Recognition of High-Quality Non-Credit Programming, underscoring the university’s commitment to expanding high-quality educational opportunities beyond traditional degree programs.
“This is the Southern difference, where you receive education for the degree, skills for the career and lifelong learning for whatever comes next,” said Colleen Bielitz, associate vice president for strategic initiatives and outreach.
NECHE recognition is distinct from accreditation, which applies to credit-bearing courses and programs. Recognition provides quality assurance for an organization’s non-credit programming and reasonable assurance about the quality of those opportunities for students, employers and the public.
“This recognition is also not a finish line. We are committed to continuous improvement, which means listening to our learners and employer partners, evaluating our programs, and continuing to raise the bar,” Feest said. “I’m grateful for the support across Southern that has helped us build opportunities that meet learners wherever they are in their educational and professional journeys.”
Southern’s next recognition evaluation is scheduled for spring 2031.
