President Hennessy acknowledges the value of bundling related skills in certificate programs, which have proven their value for continuing professional education, at times even taking the place of master’s degrees. But he is cautious about expanding that model to the undergraduate curriculum, where he finds a value in the broader education provided by the traditional model.
John L. Hennessy has been president of Stanford University since 2000, though he has announced plans to step down in the summer of 2016. A computer scientist and entrepreneur, he has long been a champion of online learning and educational innovation. To learn more about Hennessy’s transformational leadership, see this article from Stanford University: Stanford President John L. Hennessy to Step Down in 2016.