MSCHE Accelerates Workforce AIHub Pilot with Lumina Foundation Support

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is accelerating its innovative Workforce Trust AIHub initiative with a $100,000 grant from Lumina Foundation.

The foundation’s support will advance the Commission’s partnership with up to 10 institutions with The City University of New York (CUNY) and The State University of New York (SUNY) to pilot the National Accreditation Commission’s (NAC) AI-powered Accreditation Information Hub (AIHub). The technology embeds workforce intelligence into accreditation processes to help institutions evaluate programs, respond to labor market demand, and deliver greater value for students and communities.

“We are honored that Lumina has partnered with us to bolster our participation in the Workforce Trust as a driver of quality workforce education programs,” said Heather F. Perfetti, President of the Commission. “Together we are testing new technologies that can improve programs and create opportunities for students and communities.”

Institutions joining us will test program alignment against workforce needs by connecting institutional data from the Commission’s data dashboards within the AIHub. We will offer insights on the experience with the platform and share lessons learned with the broader higher education community in a 2027 report and a Pillars of Change podcast episode.

This fall, we will host a virtual convening on November 10, 2026, with our pilot partners. In addition, our 2026 Annual Conference will provide an opportunity for us to talk about the AIHub with our 1,500 audience and a featured concurrent session diving further into the collaboration. You can register now to save your spot at the Annual Conference, December 9-11, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA.

We recently welcomed Mohawk Valley Community College, an institution within the State University of New York (SUNY), as the first of the Commission’s institutions to join us on this groundbreaking collaboration. Columbia-Greene Community College, Corning Community College, and Dutchess Community College have also joined.

With Lumina’s support, the Commission advances our Strategic Directions to drive innovation and customized service to meet the unique and changing needs of institutions, students, and the communities we serve.

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all.