In December, the U.S. Department of Education announced Workforce Pell Grants, expanding access to Pell Grant funding for students enrolled in programs that are shorter than the previous minimum required length. Beginning July 1, 2026, eligible short-term programs may qualify for Workforce Pell.

To help institutions access state and federal funding for workforce training programs, WSCUC is partnering with the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) on a pilot of AI-enabled program reviews. The partnership accelerates approvals for qualifying programs while maintaining rigorous quality assurance standards.

Pilot programs will be evaluated under WSCUC’s Standards of Accreditation, and WSCUC will retain full authority over program approval. NAC’s AI-powered Accreditation Information Hub will streamline technical review by verifying Workforce Pell eligibility and validating alignment with employer demand.

Learn more about WSCUC’s partnership with NAC, including collaboration with other institutional accreditors, at a webinar on May 8. Register here.