Graduate Microcredential Policy

Sponsor:	Academic Affairs
Contact:	Vice Provost of Academic Programs
Category:	Graduate Studies
Number:	800.013
Effective Date:	03/31/2020
Implementation History:
Keywords:	Microcredential, certificate, digital badge, micro-award, competencies, skills
Background Information:	In January 2018, SUNY adopted a microcredential policy, developed by a task force of representative presidents, chief academic officers, faculty governance (University Faculty Senate members and Faculty Council of Community College members), business officers, registrars, and continuing education professionals. SUNY's policy supports microcredentials that motivate current students to persist; provide a pathway to (or back to) higher education; foster individualized learning; allow students to distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace; and provide incremental steps for students looking to start or return to university that stack into degrees and support life-long learning and professional development. Empire State University's policy and practice will align to the SUNY policy.

Purpose

This policy establishes the rationale, conceptualization, design, development, review, and approval process of microcredentials at the university.

Definitions

A SUNY microcredential:

1.    Has clearly articulated learning outcomes/competencies
2.    Is endorsed by the issuing campus
3.    Is developed through faculty governance
4.    Is meaningful and of high quality

Statements

Microcredentials verify, validate, and attest that specific skills and/or competencies have been achieved.  They differ from traditional degrees and certificates in that they are generally offered in shorter or more flexible timespans and tend to be more narrowly focused.  They may represent the content of credit or non-credit study; they may take the form of a digital badge or micro-award. Microcredentials can be acquired through online or classroom study, or via professional learning evaluations or individual prior learning evaluations, or a combination of all of the above.

Microcredentials can be used to highlight competencies earned as part of a credit-bearing program; serve as an introduction or entry point to a degree program; or be issued as a stand-alone credential and/or complement to a degree program. Microcredentials will not be registered as a certificate program although they could be applied to an existing certificate program. 

Microcredentials do not need to be credit bearing. For those that are, there is no prescribed number of credits, although they will be smaller than certificates.

The award of a microcredential will appear on the university transcript.

Development and approval of a microcredential must take place through the appropriate academic unit/school.  The academic unit/school will determine the requirements for each microcredential including any residency requirements, evaluation processes or other applicable academic requisites. Approval of the microcredential will follow governance processes including review and approval by GSPC and the Senate.  

Applicable Legislation and Regulations

SUNY MicroCredential Policy

Related References, Policies, Procedures, Forms and Appendices