No Time for College? CBE Programs Give City Employees a Faster Path Forward
East Texas A&M University's College of Innovation and Design has launched a new initiative through the Public Administration / City Planning (BAAS) program, created to meet the needs of working adults across industries, including those in municipal government. By way of competency-based programs, the initiative is already expanding through new partnerships, including a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Sachse.
The initiative is part of the university's broader commitment to support Texas cities by helping employees advance their careers without pausing their public service. The MOU gives Sachse employees the opportunity to explore any of East Texas A&M's competency-based degree offerings, attend information sessions and access advising tailored to municipal career paths.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Sachse to make higher education more accessible to their workforce,” said Dr. April Sanders, dean of the College of Innovation and Design. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to serving working adults through flexible, competency-based programs. Together, we’re creating meaningful pathways for professional growth and development.”
Competency-based education (CBE) measures learning by mastery rather than time spent in a classroom. Instead of traditional 16-week courses with set schedules, students progress through modules at their own pace and apply real-world experience toward earning credit. All coursework is offered online, with assessments, projects, and advising structured to fit unpredictable work shifts, emergency callouts and overtime hours common in municipal operations.
“We designed this program for people who are already serving their communities every day,” said Justin Weiss, a faculty member for Public Administration and City Planning and a former assistant city manager. “Cities depend on career-ready leaders. Competency-based education allows employees to gain the skills they need for advancement without stepping away from the important work they're doing.”
For many city employees who have considered returning to college but felt they lacked the time, CBE offers a path that adapts to daily life. Employees can accelerate through material they already know—such as budgeting, leadership, safety, public service ethics or organizational management—and take more time on new concepts as needed. Students can even “Accelerate Free,” advancing to a new course within the same term at no additional cost if they master the first one quickly.
Public Administration and City Planning joins a suite of CBE degree options valuable to municipalities, including Criminal Justice, Organizational Leadership, Human Resource Development and General Studies. Weiss said these programs help cities strengthen internal talent pipelines, prepare employees for promotion and support long-term succession planning.
East Texas A&M's public administration and city planning program is open to all municipal employees seeking flexible, affordable pathways to a bachelor's degree, whether they work in public works, public safety, code compliance, administration or other city departments.