Western Governors University President Scott Pulsipher testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on Dec. 10, 2025, urging lawmakers to support Learning and Employment Records (LERs) that track and verify skills throughout a person’s life.

Pulsipher advocated for Learning and Employment Records (LERs) as a way to better connect education, skills, and employment. In his testimony, he described the current system as fragmented and outdated, leaving learners uncertain about what employers expect and leaving employers without reliable ways to assess candidate readiness.

“Talent exists everywhere,” Pulsipher told lawmakers. “But the systems meant to connect people with opportunity—education, credentialing, and employment—are misaligned and hard to navigate.”

LERs, he explained, are skills-rich digital credentials that capture verified skills gained through education, work, military service, or volunteer experience. Because they are portable and owned by the individual, LERs can help learners understand their strengths, identify skill gaps, and pursue career opportunities more confidently.

Pulsipher also emphasized the growing need for skills-based hiring, particularly as artificial intelligence transforms how employers screen candidates. He said LERs could help employers cut through résumé noise by providing clearer evidence of a candidate’s capabilities, leading to broader and more equitable hiring.

WGU’s LER platform, he noted, is already used by more than 60,000 students, graduates, and staff. Designed to be student-centered, the system helps users map their skills and plan career pathways from the start of their academic journey.

In his remarks, Pulsipher urged Congress to support policies that prioritize individual learners, encourage innovation, and promote systems that work across institutions, industries, and state lines. 

“Higher education and the broader workforce exist to expand human potential,” Pulsipher said. “When skills are visible, verifiable, and portable, opportunity grows—for individuals, families, and communities.”