How Kean University’s Cougar Climb is Powering First-Year Career Readiness

Starting with Purpose

Kean University is taking a purposeful approach to the first-year experience. Through the Cougar Climb program, over 3,500 new students each year are introduced to a skills-based credentialing journey that begins on day one. The goal is clear: prepare students not just to graduate, but to succeed in the workforce.

Six Badges, Real Outcomes

Students in Cougar Climb can earn up to six verified badges that reflect skills gained through co-curricular experiences, service, and engagement. These credentials are not participation trophies. Each badge is mapped to concrete skills and linked to broader learning outcomes.

Digital Wallet Activation

Once enrolled, students receive access to Territorium’s LifeJourney credential ecosystem. Through a simple activation process, they unlock their personal digital wallet where badges and skills stack over time. The wallet becomes a living, growing record of their progress and abilities.

Career Exploration Built In

LifeJourney does more than store credentials. It helps students explore career paths that match their earned skills. From the moment they begin their college experience, learners see how what they’re doing today connects to the jobs they want tomorrow.

Increased Participation in Year Two

In just the second year of the Cougar Climb program, Kean has already seen a boost in student participation and credential completion. The combination of clear purpose, digital tools, and visual progress tracking is helping students stay engaged and motivated.

Pathways That Stack

Each Cougar Climb badge stacks toward a larger certificate of completion. This design encourages sustained involvement while reinforcing that skills are cumulative and transferable. Students leave their first year not just with credits, but with a skills record that carries weight.

Built on Real Learning

What makes Kean’s model work is its grounding in real learning. The badges are not generic. They are tied to events, outcomes, and evidence. Students can explain what they’ve earned and why it matters—and employers can understand what those credentials mean.

A Blueprint for First-Year Success

Kean University’s approach offers a blueprint for other institutions. By using Territorium’s LifeJourney platform to activate student engagement, visualize skills, and align badges to career readiness, Cougar Climb turns the first year of college into a launchpad for long-term success.