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 The Council on Occupational Education (COE) appeared

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) convened

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COE President and CEO Dr. Kirk A.

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The Council on Occupational Education continues its

Dr. Kirk A. Nooks, President and CEO

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President and CEO Dr. Kirk A. Nooks

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Dr. Kirk A. Nooks, President and CEO

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The Council on Occupational Education (COE) has been recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the Best Places to Work for 2025!

President and CEO Dr. Kirk A. Nooks continued his Leadership in Motion tour with three dynamic stops across Georgia, highlighting institutions dedicated to advancing skills, training, and career development.

As part of the Council on Occupational Education’s (COE) national Listening & Engagement Tour, President and CEO Dr. Kirk A. Nooks made impactful visits to three COE-accredited institutions in California from June 27–30, 2025.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) concluded a successful week of impactful strategic meetings, committee sessions, and policy engagement during its 2025 Summer Commission Meeting and “COE Day at the Capitol” in Washington, D.C. Held June 8–12, this marked the second year COE convened its Commission and core committees in the nation’s capitol, reinforcing the importance of advocacy, transparency, and strategic alignment in workforce and technical education.

As part of the Council on Occupational Education’s (COE) national Listening & Engagement Tour, President and CEO Dr. Kirk A. Nooks made impactful visits to three COE-accredited institutions in New York City from June 4–6, 2025.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) proudly announces that President and CEO, Dr. Kirk A. Nooks, will begin a nationwide tour of COE-accredited institutions as part of the Council’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan. With scheduled visits beginning in New York (June 4–6, 2025) and San Francisco (June 27, 2025), Dr. Nooks will engage directly with students, faculty, administrators, and workforce leaders to better understand their unique needs and local challenges.

Get ready for our upcoming Fall Candidate Academy! The Fall Candidate Academy will take place October 1-2, 2025 in Atlanta, GA at the Kimpton Overland Hotel.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) successfully hosted its 2025 Spring Candidate Academy on April 2–3 at the Kimpton Overland Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The highly anticipated event reached capacity two months prior, with all 30 registration spots filled and a waiting list of 15 institution, demonstrating a strong and growing demand for COE accreditation services.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) proudly recognized two exceptional leaders in career and technical education—Dr. Linda Alford and Robert “Bob” Clark—as recipients of the 2025 Sue Schooler Award, during the Hall of Fame Recognition Luncheon at the Spring Accreditation Institute in Columbus, Ohio.

The 2025 Postsecondary Adult and Career Education (PACE) Conference was held April 3-4, 2025, in Dublin, Ohio. PACE includes programs such as Workplace Education, Corrections Education, Adult Diploma Program, Ohio Options for Adults, Ohio Technical Centers (OTCs) and the Aspire Program. PACE is designed to provide quality career and technical training to prepare learners for certificates, certifications, and licenses that align with and meet the demands of the workforce. The 2025 PACE Conference provided invaluable workshops and seminars to amplify the skills and knowledge in career and technical education and enhance student outcomes. The attendees shared best practices and ideas and connected with community educators, and workforce leaders to foster student success in technical education. 

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) successfully hosted its 2025 Spring Accreditation Institute in Columbus, Ohio, from April 30 to May 1, drawing over 380 career and technical education leaders from across the country. Held for the first time in Ohio’s capital, the event provided attendees with enhanced training, fresh insights into accreditation best practices, and a deeper understanding of COE’s evolving standards.

Download a copy of the 2025 Spring Accreditation Institute Program.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) kicked off 2025 with an inspiring and action-packed staff retreat at the stunning Callaway Gardens Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, from January 8-9. This two-day event blended strategic planning, team building, and professional development to equip our team with the tools to thrive in the year ahead. 

COE announced Dr. Gwen Sutton, President of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Memphis, as the newly elected Commission Chair. Dr. Sutton brings over 20 years of experience in technical education and workforce development. Under her leadership, TCAT Memphis has been recognized for innovation in curriculum design and partnerships with key industries, ensuring students are prepared for competitive careers. Dr. Sutton will assume the chair on January 1, 2025, succeeding Kim Ziebarth, associate commissioner for technical education at the Utah System of Higher Education.

he Council on Occupational Education (COE) proudly announced the winners of its 2024 Annual Meeting Hall of Fame Awards during a special ceremony on November 14, 2024, at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, GA. These awards recognize exceptional individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to occupational education and workforce development.

On behalf of the Council on Occupational Education, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us for the COE 2024 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, November 12-14. With over 600 attendees, your energy and participation made this event a resounding success, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Check out our Recap video and photos!

Download a copy of the 2024 COE Annual Meeting program here

COE recently concluded its highly anticipated Fall Candidate Academy, held on October 9-10, 2024, at the Kimpton Overland Hotel in Atlanta, GA. The event drew in a diverse group of 40 attendees from 29 institutions from across the United States, all eager to delve into the intricacies of accreditation with COE.

View the proposed changes for our upcoming 2024 November Business Session.

Download the October 2024 editor of COE’s “The Councilor” Newsletter

We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the COE Hall of Fame Awards, to be presented at our upcoming Annual Meeting in November. We invite our accredited member institutions to recognize outstanding individuals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, contributions to accreditation, community impact, student teaching and learning achievements, and workforce partnerships.

We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the 2024 COE Annual Meeting, taking place in Atlanta from November 12-14. This year’s event promises to be an invaluable opportunity for professional development, important training sessions, networking, and recognition of outstanding achievements within our community.

Open Call for Proposals Now Open! We heard your feedback on wanting to share your knowledge with other member. Now here’s your chance! We invite you to share your wisdom and experience with your peers and our member institutions at our upcoming Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. We are asking for unique presentations of in-depth knowledge and helpful information, pertaining to continuous improvement in occupational education.

Download the July 2024 editor of COE’s “The Councilor” Newsletter

At Midwestern Career College (MCC) in Chicago, Illinois, students are not just educated; they are empowered to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams. One such inspiring story is that of Brendan Wolfe, a graduate of MCC’s Electroneurodiagnostic (END) Technologist program who refused to let epilepsy stop him from achieving success.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) recently hosted our Summer meetings in Washington, DC. This format was a first for our combined June Commission meeting and various committee meetings, including the Nominations Committee, Standards and Conditions Committee, and Policy and Rules Committee. This gathering marked an essential step in advancing our mission and strengthening our strategic initiatives.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is pleased to announce the continuation and renewal of its partnership with the US Army Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is pleased to announce the continuation and renewal of its partnership with the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Have questions about our EDvera transition? Click here to review our Frequently Asked Questions document.

Over the last year, we have been working to make adjustments to support the incredible work taking place at your schools and institutions. We believe that we have listened to your feedback and have demonstrated our commitment to making our policies more relevant and our processes more helpful. As we prepare to launch our Strategic Plan in July 2024, we are excited about the next five years as we fulfill our vision to be the standard for education that works. In anticipation of the new initiatives, there are two critical information items that we would like you to note.

Get ready for our upcoming Fall Candidate Academy! The Fall Candidate Academy will take place October 9-10, 2024 in Atlanta, GA at the Kimpton Overland Hotel.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) recently concluded its highly anticipated Spring Candidate Academy, held on April 3-4, 2024, at the Kimpton Overland Hotel in Atlanta, GA. The event drew in a diverse group of 28 attendees from institutions ranging from Texas to overseas, all eager to delve into the intricacies of accreditation with COE.

View the proposed changes for our upcoming 2024 Business Session.

Empowered leaders at the forefront!  Our Council

The countdown begins….the 2024 Spring Accreditation Institute

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) proudly

Guidance on Changing Programmatic Length to Remain Compliant with the U.S. Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Revisions.

We’re excited about our upcoming Spring Conference! The Spring Conference will take place May 1-2, 2024 in Kansas City, MO at the Sheraton Hotel.

Get ready for our upcoming Spring Candidate Academy! The Spring Candidate Academy will take place April 3-4, 2024 in Atlanta, GA at the Kimpton Overland Hotel.

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is pleased to announce significant changes in leadership and the election of new members to the board.

2023 COE Fall Candidate Academy October 11-12,

COE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR –

For Immediate Release Press Contact: Gary Puckett

The Council on Occupational Education has posted

N O T I C E UNPLANNED

UPDATED: August 20, 2021   The Commission

*REMINDER* (August 20, 2021) As noted in

COE: COVID-19 Alert 12:  Accommodation for Standard

COE: COVID-19 Alert 7: Institutional Advisory Committee

COE: COVID-19 Alert 10: Accommodation for Standard

COE: COVID-19 Alert 9: Revisions to and

Standard 8 – Human Resources, B. Faculty,

(REVISED) ALERT: Financial Information Submission Deadlines Extended

COUNCIL COVID-19 ALERT 2 (ADDENDUM April 13,

COUNCIL COVID-19 ALERT 2: ACCOMMODATION FOR ADVISORY

On March 5, 2020, the Department of