Aligning Higher Ed with Workforce Needs and Nontraditional Learners

Higher education is facing a growing disconnect between traditional academic pathways and the needs of today’s learners and employers. In this episode of the Changing Higher Ed® podcast, Dr. Drumm McNaughton speaks with Kathleen deLaski, founder of Education Design Lab and author of Who Needs College Anymore?, about how institutions can realign academic programs to better serve nontraditional students and meet workforce demands.

Drawing from her experience supporting over 1,200 colleges and regional systems, deLaski explores how modular credentials, skills-based learning, and short-term pathways can make higher education more accessible and valuable to adult learners. The conversation highlights how institutions can use design thinking, industry data, and step-ladder credentialing to connect academic outcomes to employment opportunities—without abandoning their core mission.

This episode is especially relevant for presidents, trustees, and academic leaders tasked with redesigning programs and structures to improve learner outcomes, increase enrollment, and strengthen workforce relevance.

Topics Covered:

• The rise of nontraditional students and the failures of a degree-first model

• How institutions can implement skills-based learning and credential transparency

• Examples of how colleges like Western Governors University are aligning learning with job market demands

• The importance of employer engagement in curriculum design

• Why internal silos and legacy structures hinder meaningful innovation

• How to use step-ladder pathways to improve access, confidence, and long-term outcomes

Real-World Examples Discussed:

• Western Governors University’s use of skills profiles tied to labor market data

• How community colleges are building modular micro-pathways in partnership with employers

• The impact of state policy and funding shifts (e.g., Virginia, Colorado, Texas) on institutional priorities

Three Key Takeaways for Higher Ed Leadership:

1. Aligning academic programs with workforce needs requires intentional curriculum design and employer input.

2. Modular, stackable credentials offer nontraditional students realistic entry points and long-term pathways to degrees.

3. Institutional structures must adapt to support new models—program redesign alone is not enough.

This episode offers actionable insight for institutional leaders committed to expanding access, improving workforce outcomes, and strengthening institutional sustainability.

Recommended For:
Presidents, provosts, trustees, academic planners, workforce and career pathway leaders, and board members addressing enrollment challenges and labor market alignment.

Read the transcript on our website:
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