Designing for Equity: Lessons from Calbright College

In higher education, it’s not enough to provide access — the experience must be designed with equity in mind. That’s one of the strongest themes we heard in our recent conversation with Dr. Shannon McCarty, Vice President of Learning and Instruction at Calbright College.

At Calbright, equity isn’t just a value statement — it shows up in program design and delivery:

• Human-centered design: Students are included in focus groups and feedback cycles to ensure programs reflect their needs and goals.
• Bias-free assessment: Faculty and staff work to remove unintended bias in both content and evaluation.
• Industry alignment: Programs begin with a labor market analysis and ongoing input from employer advisory boards.
• Real-world feedback: Through partnerships with platforms like Riipen, students complete projects and receive direct feedback from employers.

This approach ensures that Calbright’s competency-based programs are not only free and online, but also relevant, authentic, and tied to actual job skills. Students leave with portfolios that demonstrate their abilities to potential employers.

Dr. McCarty emphasized that equity is not a side project. It is woven into every stage of program development — from curriculum design to assessment to employer engagement. For institutions looking to innovate, that’s a powerful reminder that equity and quality go hand in hand.

Reflection Question for You:

If you placed equity at the center of your design process, how would your programs look different?

Listen to the full episode with Dr. Shannon McCarty for practical insights on equity, design, and workforce partnerships.