With John McLoughlin, Associate Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success at NYU SPS
What do employers really want? What do students really need? And can higher ed evolve fast enough to deliver both?
In this episode of TransferTalk, John McLoughlin from NYU’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) offers one of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking blueprints yet for aligning higher education with the demands of today’s, and tomorrow’s, workforce.
Rethinking the “Major First” Mindset
McLoughlin pulls no punches: too many students enter college being told to pick a major before they understand how it connects to real-world outcomes.
“The question shouldn’t be ‘What do you want to major in?’ It should be ‘What do you want to solve?’”
NYU SPS flips the model. Students can explore modular, employer-informed pathways before committing to a degree. From micro-credentials to full stackable programs, learning is designed to be flexible, applied, and career-aligned from day one.
Credit Mobility is Not Optional
Transfer and adult learners at SPS aren’t penalized for learning elsewhere. In fact, they’re welcomed.
“We accept up to 80 transfer credits,” McLoughlin explains. “Whether it’s from previous college, military, or employer training, we evaluate it seriously.”
This creates momentum for returning learners and removes the frustrating bureaucracy that often drives students away.
Embedding Employer Voice Into Curriculum
At NYU SPS, employer feedback isn’t collected once every few years. It’s continuous.
“We’re not just saying we align with industry, we invite them into the classroom,” McLoughlin says.
From live consulting projects to guest lectures and program co-design, students gain real skills solving real problems, and often get hired before they graduate.
From Stackable to Hireable
One of the episode’s most insightful moments is McLoughlin’s take on stackable credentials:
“It’s not just about stacking coursework. It’s about stacking confidence.”
Every badge, certificate, or specialization students earn is digitally validated, immediately shareable, and anchored to a specific outcome. Students see progress, and employers see proof.
Modular Programs for Modern Learners
SPS understands its students are often:
Career shifters
Mid-career upskillers
Parents or caregivers
Veterans or adult returners
That’s why their offerings are modular by design, not by accident. Students can pause, pivot, or progress at their own pace, without losing traction.
From Orientation to Graduation, and Beyond
McLoughlin emphasizes the importance of proactive, tech-enabled advising:
“We don’t wait for students to struggle. We meet them at every step—with information and support that’s actionable.”
The goal: not just enrollment success, but career transformation. That means advising, curriculum, and partnerships all work together in real time.
The Big Takeaway: Future-Ready is Student-Ready
NYU SPS is building what many institutions talk about but struggle to execute: a workforce-connected, transfer-ready, equity-driven model of higher education.
“We’re not preparing students for today’s jobs,” says McLoughlin. “We’re preparing them for jobs that haven’t been invented yet.”
And the institutions willing to change now? They’ll be the ones leading that future.
Listen Now
This episode is a must-listen for anyone shaping the future of enrollment, workforce alignment, or adult learner success.
👉 Listen to Episode 20 of TransferTalk
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