Executive Policy 5.234 Executive Policy 5.234

Stackable Credentials Pathways

Executive Policy Chapter 5, Academic Affairs
Executive Policy EP 5.234, Stackable Credentials Pathways
Effective Date:  July 2026
Prior Dates Amended:  N/A
Responsible Office: Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy
Governing Board of Regents Policy RP 5.201 Instructional Programs
Review Date:  July 2029

1. The University of Hawai‘i System shall implement a strategy for incremental or stackable credentialing to enhance existing academic pathways, support the career development of current students and the workforce, reduce obstacles to upskilling and reskilling, and better serve adult learners.



2. To establish institutional structures that ensure all students and potential learners can move into and out of Hawai‘i’s sole public system of higher education as needed, earning incremental credentials that build or “stack” into degrees.



3. To ensure learners’ credit loss is minimized, that they make faster progress toward credentials of value, and earn credentials along the way, avoiding leaving empty-handed before completing an associate or bachelor's degree.



4. To establish definitions and broad guidelines for the creation of stackable credential pathways to programs.

1. “Stackable Credentials” are defined by the U.S. Department of Labor as a sequence of credentials (as defined in EP 5.205) that can be accumulated over time to build up a student’s qualifications and help them progress along a career pathway to different and potentially higher-paying jobs. These credentials intentionally build upon or complement one another in a carefully designed pathway toward a certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree.



2. “Stackable Credentials Pathways” are composed of credentials that purposefully stack into other credentials, forming an alternative pathway to a degree. These credentials, which can include non-credit offerings, micro-credentials, certificates and degrees, are strategically planned to stack and offer transparent choices to learners.

1. Stackable Credentials Pathways
   
   
   1. Alignment with Regents, executive and federal policy, and accreditation requirements.
      
      
      1. Stackable credential pathways shall be in compliance with relevant policy requirements set by Board of Regents, executive, federal, program and campus accreditation guidelines and requirements.
      
      
      
      2. The University of Hawai‘i System’s General Education and any campus-level graduation requirements for degrees will be met within stackable credential pathways.
      
      
      
   2. On-ramps and off-ramps
      
      
      1. The spirit and design principles of stackable credential pathways allow students to move into and out of a higher education system as needed to meet career, job, life and other obligations. Because of this, credentials earned as students progress in a stackable credential pathway will be awarded at the time of completion of each piece of an academic degree, unless a student opts out of auto-conferral.  These credentials may or may not remain stackable within a degree program, however, as program curricula change over time.
      
      
      
      2. If a student leaves higher education and seeks to return into a stackable credential pathway, previously earned credentials will be honored to facilitate timely progression toward a degree. Program curricula may change frequently as well; institutions will endeavor to honor previously earned credits though these may no longer be applicable to a specific credential.
   
   
   
2. Mapping and Alignment of Curriculum
   
   
   1. Design for Progression Stacking
      
      
      1. The primary focus shall be internal progression stacking—attaining short-term credentials that are acquired on the way to an associate, bachelor's or master’s degree.
      
      
      
      2. Pathways must be intentionally built so that smaller, stackable credentials cover a program’s course requirements, enabling students to make progress toward the degree via a series of stacked credentials without losing credits or time.
      
      
      
      3. Curricular maps must ensure that competencies are transparent and facilitate the scaffolding of learning toward a degree.
      
      
      
   2. Industry Alignment and Certifications
      
      
      1. Curriculum design and review for stackable credential pathways may incorporate employer engagement to confirm that points of exit along the pathway have labor market value, align with living wages, and address immediate and future workforce needs.
      
      
      
      2. When necessary or desired for careers in an industry, the pathways may embed preparation for Industry-Recognized Credentials and Industry-Valued Credentials or certifications and occupational licensure.
      
      
      
      3. When relevant, curricula shall ensure alignment with institutional, state, accreditation, industry, and licensure/professional certification standards.

The President delegates approval of all stackable credential pathways described above to the Chancellor.

Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy
956-6897
ovpas@hawaii.edu

Executive Policy 5.205, Academic Programs Definitions and Guidelines
Executive Policy 5.209, University of Hawai‘i System Student Transfer and Inter-Campus Articulation
Executive Policy 5.231, Micro-Credentials
Executive Policy 7.208, Systemwide Student Conduct Code

No Exhibits and Appendices found

    President