The College of Innovation and Design at East Texas A&M has entered into a new research partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) as part of a multi-year national study examining student outcomes in competency-based education (CBE) programs.

AIR, a nonprofit and nonpartisan social science research organization, received grant funding to study how CBE programs function across a range of two-year and four-year institutions nationwide. East Texas A&M was selected as one of seven participating institutions based on its decade-long history as an early leader in CBE and its willingness to share data and best practices with the broader higher education community.

Competency-based education allows students to progress through a degree program by demonstrating mastery of clearly defined skills and knowledge, rather than following a traditional semester schedule. At East Texas A&M, CBE programs are offered fully online and are designed to provide flexibility for working adults, military-affiliated students and others following a competency-driven path to a degree.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and student-centered innovation,” said Dr. April Sanders, dean of the College of Innovation and Design. “By being part of a community of scholars examining outcomes together, we can refine our programs and better serve our students.”

The research project will analyze de-identified student data to better understand who enrolls in CBE programs, how students progress and persist, and how various program designs support completion and success. Participating institutions will also engage in cross-institutional discussions to interpret findings and apply research-based insights to program improvement.

“There is growing interest in competency-based education, but limited understanding of outcomes,” said Kelle Parsons, principal researcher at AIR. “This work helps institutions move beyond whether CBE works to understanding how different approaches support different students.”

Sanders and Parsons believe the partnership will help strengthen East Texas A&M's CBE programs through evidence-based insights that inform curriculum design, student support and long-term program development, benefiting students now and for years to come.