Value Statement

In today's changing labor and educational landscape, completion of a full degree is not the only opportunity for career attainment. Metropolitan Community College (MCC) has created a Credential College that provides students with practical options and career pathways to satisfy students’ current objectives and long-range career goals. Credential College seeks to develop concise and intentional programs to upskill students quickly through attainment of industry certifications, licensures, and non-credit workforce micro-credentials, that move students toward high skill, high demand, high wage (H3) careers. These stackable short-term credentialing pathways create avenues with multiple off-ramps: (a) directly into the workforce, (b) to additional credentialing opportunities, and/or (c) to higher-level degree completion. With MCC Credential College, students are empowered through career coaching to choose the right option for them and complete their educational goal and pursue career opportunities. Each micro-credential aligns to local, state, and national industry standards making this short-term investment and informed option tied directly to career opportunities and growth.

Preparing Nebraska’s workforce for H-3 careers attracts and retains strong employment opportunities to the state. Nebraska has a low unemployment rate of 2.1 percent, ranking sixth in the nation. [1] According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska had 62,000 open positions in June 2023, most recent data available. [2] Filling the available position with prepared students begins with the pipeline for K-12 enrollments and completers. In 2022-2023 Nebraska statewide enrollments by grade level trended downward with fewer graduates to fill important jobs.