Kristin Hultquist Discusses Workforce Pell at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit

CEO Kristin Hultquist participated in the "Wiring the Workforce Pell Era: Building the Infrastructure for Short-Term Credentials" panel at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego. Joined by Portia Pratt, Senior Policy Analyst at National Governors Association; Lee Lambert, Chancellor and CEO at Foothill-De Anza Community College District and moderated by Alison Griffin, Principal Consultant at FutureRise, the speakers explored how Workforce Pell is opening federal funding to short-term, non-degree programs, shifting the national conversation from access to accountability as policymakers and institutions face mounting implementation demands. They discussed how, with the public comment period recently closed and the final rule still pending, policymakers, governors, and institutions are racing to build the approval processes, accountability systems, and data infrastructure required to support this new era.

The session examined where implementation currently stands, what remains unsettled, and what states, employers, and institutions must do now to prepare for Workforce Pell’s launch. Through this conversation, the panel highlighted the regulatory urgency, operational complexity, and infrastructure development necessary to ensure short-term credential pathways can scale effectively while meeting evolving accountability standards.

In this current moment, Kristin notes, “The policy of Congress and governors should support and advance the leadership of [institutional] presidents” to successfully scale programs that support students pursuing post-secondary pathways.

➡️ Listen to the session here.