Sept. 27, 2026

The Blur: When Credit & Workforce Stop Being Separate - Dr. Marcia Conston, President, Tidewater Community College

Key Takeaways

Dr. Marcia Conston emphasizes that the rigid dividing line between credit and noncredit programs is an institutional barrier rather than a student-facing concern.
Tidewater Community College is shifting the paradigm by acting as a registered apprenticeship sponsor rather than merely serving as a training vendor.
The higher education landscape is experiencing 'the blur,' where traditional academic credit and workforce development credentials increasingly merge into a single pathway.
Community colleges are uniquely positioned to lead the conversation on modern credentialing and the future design of flexible degree pathways.
Lifelong learning and innovative program delivery are essential for community colleges to meet the rapidly evolving demands of today's employers and learners.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Marcia Conston, President, Tidewater Community College

This episode, President Series #513, is powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠ - Higher Ed's AI-Enriched Platform!

This episode is sponsored by⁠ the MSCHE 2026 Annual Conference, where we will be podcasting live, keynoting, & facilitating a pre-conference workshop from December 9-11 in Philadelphia! Early-bird pricing ends October 12, 2026!

This episode is also sponsored by 2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference where we will be podcasting live from October 7-9 on the campus of Yavapai College!

This episode is sponsored by the ⁠InsightsEDU 2027⁠ Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!

YOUR cohost is Hunter Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Sophia Learning

YOUR host is ⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Why does Marcia insist the credit versus noncredit line is the institution's problem, not the student's?
What changes when a community college becomes the registered apprenticeship sponsor instead of just a training vendor?
If a 3 year 90 credit bachelor's is coming nationally, should it live at the community college or the university?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dr. Marcia Conston?

Dr. Marcia Conston is the President of Tidewater Community College, where she leads innovative initiatives connecting higher education and workforce development.

What is 'the blur' in higher education?

'The blur' refers to the merging boundaries between academic credit programs and noncredit workforce training, creating a more seamless educational experience for learners.

How do community colleges act as registered apprenticeship sponsors?

Instead of just acting as a training vendor, community colleges can directly sponsor registered apprenticeship programs, deeply integrating classroom learning with employer-driven workforce needs.