WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue University's College of Technology has a new competency degree program aimed at filling the skills gap in business and industry.

The Journal & Courier reports (http://on.jconline.com/1rlpIcK) the College of Technology's competency degree program allows students to progress at their own rate as they demonstrate mastery of specific skills, rather than performance measured at fixed calendar intervals of classroom time.

Instead of letter grades, competencies will indicate to employers what abilities graduates have. College of Technology Dean Gary Bertoline says the program will help students prepare for high-skill, high-wage technology jobs.

Students will graduate with the same degree but with one or more concentrations that reflect their interests

The program has 36 first-year students. Purdue plans to begin admitting students directly to the program by fall 2015.