A structured partnership delivering industry-recognized, stackable credentials that give Howard graduates a decisive competitive advantage in an AI-transformed hiring landscape.
The global entry-level hiring market has deteriorated significantly. 66% of executives plan to cut or freeze hiring in 2026, while AI rapidly displaces the roles that once served as career stepping stones for emerging professionals.
"Howard University can close this gap, enhance student outcomes, and differentiate the HU MBA — without requiring curriculum overhaul — by embedding stackable credentials into the student experience."
1,000+ assessments, AI-driven personalization, and 300+ certification prep pathways including AWS, PMP, SHRM, Six Sigma, Google Cloud, and CompTIA.
Proven methodology for maximizing platform engagement and ensuring students derive measurable, trackable value from the program.
NBMBAA membership connecting Howard graduates to mentors, sponsors, and career opportunities at scale across the country.
Several converging trends make this partnership timely and essential for Howard University students entering the workforce in 2026 and beyond.
of executives planning to cut or freeze entry-level hiring in 2026, per recent surveys.
positions announced as layoffs by Amazon, UPS, Target and others between Oct 2025 – Jan 2026.
of entry-level job postings are "ghost jobs" posted without genuine intent to hire imminently.
of entry-level postings require 3+ years of experience — an impossible standard for new graduates.
of 183 companies surveyed by NACE rated the 2026 job market as poor or fair for new grads.
institutional support for certifications, forcing MBA students to self-fund PMP, AWS, and Lean Six Sigma.
NBMBAA focus groups with current MBA students (January 2026) found that MBA programs lack applied, technical skills — particularly in technology, data, and AI — and that students are self-funding certifications out of pocket to remain competitive.
Dedicated capacity implements and manages the digital learning ecosystem — assessments, simulations, practice labs, and AI-enabled learning tools. This function oversees learner onboarding to platforms, curates role- and skill-based learning pathways, tracks skills progression, and translates learning data into actionable insights that inform program improvement and reporting.
Video courses, books, audiobooks, labs, practice exams, assessments, and guided learning paths — available self-paced and on demand.
AI-powered recommendations, playlists, and role- or skill-based learning paths, plus live bootcamps and Leadercamps with leading experts.
Skill IQ / Role IQ assessments and analytics measure skills and track progression, surfacing insights that inform program improvement.
Mobile app with offline access and bookmarking, gamification and badges, plus certificates and completion credentials.
The library prepares learners for industry-recognized certifications across 25 issuing bodies (Appendix A). Pathways are organized by certifying organization below.
Skill IQ and Role IQ benchmarks measure proficiency and track progression across 19 domains (Appendix B). Numbers indicate available assessments per domain — 1,166+ in total.
The $750 per-student annual fee provides access to 300+ certification prep pathways simultaneously. Below is what it costs to independently pursue just one credential.
| Credential / Pathway | Exam Fee | Prep Course | Study Materials | Est. Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMP – Project Management Professional (PMI) | $555 | $800 – $2,000 | $200 – $500 | $1,555 – $3,055 |
| PHR – Professional in Human Resources (SHRM/HRCI) | $395 – $495 | $700 – $1,500 | $150 – $400 | $1,245 – $2,395 |
| Six Sigma Black Belt (ASQ) | $538 | $1,000 – $3,000 | $200 – $600 | $1,738 – $4,138 |
| HU × NBMBAA Program (ALL 300+ credential pathways) | Included · Unlimited Access | $750 / student | ||
NBMBAA will manage the full implementation lifecycle across 10 phases, from formal approval through Cohort 1 enrollment in Fall 2026.
HU Dean / Provost Office endorses partnership for institutional consideration
Legal teams draft partnership agreement; NBMBAA CLO and HU Academic Affairs align on program structure and timeline
Howard ETS conducts FERPA compliance verification, penetration testing, and network requirements analysis. NBMBAA provides full technical documentation.
NBMBAA Platform Admin builds and configures site; ETS and student testers complete user acceptance testing in sandbox environment
Multi-channel outreach strategy: digital campaigns, faculty briefings, NBMBAA alumni network activation, social media, and student ambassador program
Impact reports tracking enrollment, credential pass rates, student satisfaction (NPS), career outcomes, and equity advancement data
Howard University has an extraordinary opportunity to prepare graduates for an AI-transformed, credential-conscious job market — at $750 per student, a fraction of the cost of a single independent certification.
HU School of Business Dean reviews and endorses proposal for Provost consideration
Legal teams from HU and NBMBAA convene to draft partnership and data-sharing agreement
NBMBAA CLO and HU Academic Affairs align on Option 1 or 2 (or phased approach)
ETS pre-engagement call scheduled to initiate security and integration review
Target Cohort 1 launch: Fall 2026 Semester