A&M-Commerce Faculty, Staff Share Expertise at Renowned Competency-Based Education Conference

Representatives from Texas A&M University-Commerce attended the CBExchange conference hosted by the Competency-Based Education Network in Amelia Island, Florida, from Oct. 18-21. The annual event is touted as the foremost conference on competency-based education.

“As founding members of the Competency-Based Education Network, A&M-Commerce has grown to national prominence as a leader in competency-based education,” said Dr. Yvonne Villanueva-Russell, dean of the College of Innovation and Design at A&M-Commerce. “CBExchange is an invaluable tool toward our continued success and we're happy to share our experiences with other institutions.”

The Institute for Competency-Based Education (ICBE) at A&M-Commerce assists with new program development at the university and advocates for competency-based education throughout Texas and the nation.

“The institute facilitates the growth of competency-based education by supporting presentations that share practitioners' experiences and expertise in providing competency-based education programs,” said Cici Clanton, assistant director of ICBE. “We also sponsor conference attendance for those interested in developing competency-based programs.”

ICBE has sponsored individuals from multiple departments and divisions at A&M-Commerce, including counseling, curriculum and instruction, the Waters Library, career development, institutional effectiveness and research, and the Graduate School.

A&M-Commerce personnel presented on multiple topics, including building competency-based education programs, open education resources, copyright issues, teacher licensure, collaboration with industry partners and the Pride Pathway program at A&M-Commerce, which was hailed as a game-changer in the field of teacher preparation.

“Attending the CBExchange conference was a great opportunity to network and learn with other institutions of higher education about how we can utilize a competency-based education model to offer high-quality learning experiences for aspiring and in-service educators,” said Dr. Kathryn Dixon, associate professor and interim head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at A&M-Commerce.

Those interested in learning more about CBExchange or attending the annual conference may contact [email protected].

Learn more about the Institute for Competency-Based Education, the College of Innovation and Design at A&M-Commerce and the Competency-Based Education Network.