For over a century, HESS Consortium institutions have upheld academic excellence, graduating students with the knowledge and values to lead in their communities and careers. But today’s students are navigating a new challenge: how to translate a traditional college degree into a clear set of employer-recognized skills. At the same time, employers increasingly voice concern that graduates aren’t entering the workforce with the competencies they expect—creating a disconnect that institutions must urgently address.

This session explores how colleges with rich histories can maintain their academic integrity while adapting to a skills-based economy. We’ll discuss practical ways to map existing programs and course outcomes to real-world skill frameworks without compromising institutional identity. You’ll learn how to provide students with the transparency they want and the employability data they need—without reinventing your curriculum.

We’ll also demonstrate how solutions like Anthology Student, Occupation Insight, and Milestone can help bridge the gap between tradition and innovation. These tools offer the flexibility to align academic programs with evolving labor market needs, support skills-first advising and credentialing, and empower students to track progress toward career readiness in real time.

Join us to explore a path forward that honors your institution’s legacy while equipping your students for the future of work.