University of Phoenix Leaders to Present at 2026 Convergence Conference
News related to:University of Phoenix · 2 min read
PHOENIX, Oct. 16, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- University of Phoenix, a 50-year-old institution known for its flexible online learning programs, will have two of its leaders present at the 2026 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education conference, set to take place from October 13-15 in Washington, D.C.
Cate Tolnai, director of Microcredentials & Innovation Credential Strategy, and Marc Booker, PhD., vice provost of Strategy, will share insights on credit for prior learning, skills recognition, and microcredential pathways. The conference, jointly organized by UPCEA and AACRAO, brings together higher education leaders, practitioners, and innovators to explore emerging approaches to credentialing, learner mobility, and workforce-aligned education.
Tolnai will participate in three sessions, focusing on credential innovation, learner mobility, and credit for prior learning. The presentation will detail a process for connecting life experiences, education, and career pathways through CPL-to-skills-to-microcredential workflows.
Attendees will use a future-casting framework to explore predictions, evaluate their implications for current initiatives, and identify strategies for advancing credential innovation within their organizations.
The session will examine the growing range of CPL approaches available across higher education, including portfolio assessment, challenge exams, and workforce-aligned learning recognition. Panelists will discuss how institutions are using CPL to improve learner mobility, reduce time to completion, and create more equitable pathways to credentials. Attendees will also receive an early look at findings from the UPCEA Council for Credential Innovation's landscape poll on current CPL policies, practices, and implementation strategies across higher education.
University of Phoenix representatives have been regularly invited to share their expertise at national conferences and industry events. In 2026, they participated in the AACRAO Annual Meeting, ASU+GSV Summit, 1EdTech Learning Impact Conference, SXSW EDU Conference, and PESC Data Summit, contributing insights on learning innovation, student success, and workforce-aligned education.
The conversation around credentials is no longer just about documenting learning; it's about helping learners communicate their capabilities in ways that are meaningful to employers, educators, and the learners themselves, shared Tolnai. As credential innovation continues to evolve, institutions have an opportunity to create more transparent, flexible, and learner-centered ways for individuals to showcase what they know and can do.
Innovation in higher education is most impactful when it helps learners see clearer connections between what they have learned, the skills they possess, and the opportunities available to them, said Booker. Creating those connections strengthens learner mobility and helps institutions deliver greater value earlier on in the student journey and prior to credential completion.
The conference, which aims to advance strategies that help learners translate knowledge, skills, and experiences into meaningful educational and career opportunities, is a significant platform for exploring these issues. The event focuses on advancing strategies that help learners translate knowledge, skills, and experiences into meaningful educational and career opportunities.