Launching a Competency-Based Education pilot at K-State

Dear K-State community,

K-State is launching a small pilot in Competency-Based Education (CBE) as part of our commitment to student success, academic innovation and programs that connect clearly to workforce needs.

We want you to hear directly from us about why we’re doing this and what it means.

What is CBE?

In CBE, students move forward by showing they’ve mastered specific skills and knowledge — called competencies — rather than only by seat time. This builds on what we already do with student learning outcomes, and it can give students more flexibility to move at a pace that fits their lives, within our semester structure.

Why a pilot — and why now?

This faculty-guided pilot is about building capacity at K-State. We’re putting the right policies, processes and support in place so that, in the future, any college or unit that wants to develop a CBE program can do so with clarity and strong guidance.

For this first step, participation is limited to select graduate programs, in part because they typically involve fewer credit hours to translate into competencies.

What this is not

This pilot is not a campuswide change in teaching, and it is not a mandate.

• No faculty member will be required to change how they teach.
• Participation is voluntary and limited to those in the pilot programs and workgroups.

This is about creating one more option — another way to serve certain learners and programs when it makes sense.

How we’ll do this the K-State way

A core principle of this work is shared governance and broad voluntary engagement. Faculty and staff are leading through a steering committee and workgroups to ensure academic quality, alignment with curriculum processes and long-term sustainability. We’re grateful to everyone contributing their time and expertise.

We are also building this pilot to align with external expectations, including the Kansas Board of Regents and Higher Learning Commission, so future programs can move forward with the right foundations already in place.

What’s next

At the end of February, we’ll host a two-day CBE design charrette with faculty, staff and academic leaders serving on the CBE initiative steering committee and workgroups. Together, we’ll shape key parts of the model — competency design, assessment, faculty support and the student experience.

Why it matters

This work helps K-State strengthen how we serve learners — especially working adults and place-bound students — through clear learning expectations and flexible pathways that remain fully grounded in faculty leadership and academic integrity.

We know new models raise real questions. We’re committed to being transparent, to listening and to keeping this work manageable and voluntary. We’re approaching this pilot with care — rooted in our purpose, focused on people and growing thoughtfully for tomorrow.

Thank you for all you do each day for our students, your colleagues and K-State’s mission. We’ll share more as the pilot moves forward, and we welcome your questions and engagement along the way. Please visit the Competency-Based Education initiative website as a resource to learn more along the way.

With appreciation,

Margaret Mohr-Schroeder
Vice provost for academic affairs and innovation

Karen Goos
Vice provost for enrollment management