Minneapolis (Aug. 12, 2021)—Rasmussen University, a regionally accredited private university, today announced the rebranding of its Flex Choice^® learning options to Empowered Learning^™and Knowledge Credit^™. Empowered Learning is Rasmussen’s name for competency-based education (CBE). CBE puts students in the driver’s seat and allows them to manage their own pace by using previous experience to demonstrate skills in project-based courses. Knowledge Credit is Rasmussen University’s name for prior learning assessment offerings, which allow students to earn credit for the knowledge and experiences they already have. Together, these flexible learning options allow students to save time and money and adapt their education to their life.

About Empowered Learning

Master’s and Bachelor’s degree students from around the country can enroll in around 20 Rasmussen programs that include Empowered Learning options to take the next step in their educational journey. Empowered Learning allows students to use their professional and life experience to demonstrate some skills faster, and slow down to work with new material. Empowered Learning prepares students for the future by ensuring they not only have the knowledge they need but can also prove their skills in order to succeed in the workplace. Empowered Learning allows students to do this through:

• Learning by doing: Instead of tests and papers, students complete projects to demonstrate and apply new knowledge right away.
• Managing their pace: Build on personal experience to combine what they know with what they are learning.
• Learning in community: In addition to weekly class discussions, students will have a one-on-one consultation with instructors, and classmates often help one another with feedback and ideas.

“Colleges and universities across the country are looking for innovative ways to prepare students to flourish in today’s ever-changing, demanding workforce,” said Dr. Ann Leja, interim president, Rasmussen University. “Rasmussen University’s Empowered Learning increases access for working professionals who need the flexibility to schedule school around work and family, which allows students to excel in their educational journey by ensuring they master each skill needed to be successful in the workforce.”

Each Empowered Learning CBE course requires students to complete six projects – aligned with specific in-demand skills – and a seventh, final project that combines everything students have learned. Students then create a portfolio using the course projects to package and highlight their skills and knowledge.

“While the name ‘Empowered Learning’ is new to Rasmussen, the University is not new to this innovative approach,” said Brooks Doherty, assistant vice president, Academic Innovation at Rasmussen University and vice chair, Board of Directors, Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN). “We are proud to be a national leader in the field of competency-based education, having first offered CBE courses nearly five years ago, as well as being a founding member of C-BEN. Since 2016, 8,000 Rasmussen University students have successfully experienced competency-based education. We are eager and excited to help bring this learning option to more students as Empowered Learning.”

About Knowledge Credit

Rasmussen University believes students deserve credit for the valuable knowledge and experience they bring to the classroom. Knowledge Credit allows students to save time and money by demonstrating what they already know and what they have experienced.

Students can save time and money through Knowledge Credit in multiple ways, including:

1. Transferring in college-level credit
2. Gaining credit for military training/experience or industry licenses and certifications
3. Completing Credit by Examination (Test-Outs)
4. Taking self-directed assessments to show that you don’t need to take a specific course

The $99 online, self-directed Knowledge Credit assessments are available in 56 programs at the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree levels and essentially allows students to “test out” of courses. Rasmussen University offers prep materials for the assessments, as well as a peer coach to help students brush up on their knowledge at no added cost. In 2020, Rasmussen University students earned more than 20,000 credits through self-directed assessments and saved more than $5.2 million in tuition.

To learn more about Knowledge Credit, visit https://www.rasmussen.edu/admissions/transfer-policy/.

To learn more about Empowered Learning and find a program available in this learning option, visit https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/empowered-learning/.