Project Atlas
Southern New Hampshire University
Project Atlas, piloted in fall 2018, combines competency-based learning (CBE) with the residential campus experience at SNHU. Traditional aged learners in the program have the opportunity to live on campus, participate in clubs and activities, and connect with academic coaches while completing their coursework online through SNHU’s competency-based program. Through the integration of project-based learning and the coming of age experience, Project Atlas seeks to explore questions around efficacy and suitability of this approach for traditional-age students, as well as learning how CBE can be better or differently designed to take advantage of a residential environment, and to pilot possible lower-cost models of traditional, residential education. Through insights from independent research and surveys, we found that Project Atlas and traditional campus learners have statistically comparable learning outcomes, engagement, and coming-of-age experiences. Additionally, Project Atlas can deliver the on-campus experience at approximately $12,500 less per year than SNHU’s traditional higher education delivery.