SUNY Oswego home page
A snow dusted sunset over the Village

For Faculty & Staff

How to make a Microcredential

Learn the skill. Earn the badge.

Before you begin

It is highly recommended that you request a consultation with Karen Archibee [email protected] before submitting a proposal. Karen can help guide your idea, assist with plans, and provide additional guidance.

Microcrendeitals and the process can be complicated, but don't worry here is a video explaining some of the process and options. This presentation was recorded at the CELT Winter Breakout session: 

Youtube link

Stage 1: Is a microcredential the right choice?

Ready to get started? These documents will help you begin the development process. 

Ensure that you can respond to the following questions:

  1. What is the skill demonstrated by your microcredential?
  2. Does your microcredential fit into one of the broad categories described by the National Association of Colleges and Employers?
    • Career and Self-Development
    • Communication
    • Critical thinking
    • Equity and Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Professionalism
    • Teamwork
    • Technology
  3. Is your planned micro-credential going to result in a valuable skill in the workplace?
  4. Who is your audience?
  5. How do you know there will be interest in this microcredential?
  6. How will you promote the microcredential to your audience?

 

Stage 2: Develop your microcredential and submit your proposal

It is highly recommended that you request a consultation with Karen Archibee [email protected] before submitting a proposal. Karen can help guide your idea, assist with plans and provide additional guidance.

Please use the Micro-Credential Proposal Form and supplemental Digital Badge Overview document (below) to submit new proposals. 

Ready to get started? These documents will help you begin the development process. 

Checklist
Application- Credit
Application- Non-credit

Completed proposals will be submitted to [email protected].

All proposals must be signed by the chair and the associate dean for academic affairs (for academic programs). The director and the unit head are the appropriate signatories for proposals submitted by non-decanal units. 

Please note:

Your proposed program may be subject to governance during faculty assembly. Credit-bearing microcredentials and non-credit-bearing microcrendentials all need to be signed by the provost.

. 

 

Stage 3: Microcredential review

When the proposal is submitted, Extended Learning reviews the proposal and provides feedback. If revisions are recommended, please work with Extended Learning to resubmit with changes. 

When a proposal is finalized (including all necessary signatures), it will be presented to the provost for final approval.

 

Before you begin

It is highly recommended that you request a consultation with Karen Archibee [email protected] before submitting a proposal. Karen can help guide your idea, assist with plans, and provide additional guidance. 

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Please submit Microcrendeital proposals by the following deadlines. Submit your proposal form and any supplementary documents to [email protected]

 

February 1st

May 1st

August 1st

November 1st

 

Additional Resources

Microcredentials at SUNY

Check out what's already been developed:   

Digital Media & Communication Design

Learn to design and create websites, graphics, visual, and written communication messages.

Grain Testing & Analysis

Agricultural sciences with practical experiences and specialized knowledge in applied testing of grain grading and analysis.

Graduate level Microcredentials 

Interaction Design

Skills focused on user experience, web design, principles of motion, and digital storytelling. 

NYS Superintendent Development

A year-long professional development program designed to prepare the next generation of superintendents.

Skill level Microcredentials 

LOC team photo

Leadership Oswego County

Leadership Oswego County offers an annual leadership development program that prepares a select group of county residents to become the community stewards of the future.

OTXA Micro

Enhancing Administrative Professionalism Certificate

The Enhancing Administrative Professionalism Certificate Program is designed for individuals in administrative support roles who want to be exceptional at their job.

Innovation Skills

The Digital Badge for Innovation recognizes the successful completion of three courses totaling 12 sections of webinar content for entrepreneurship basics. The webinar content was created by two adjunct faculty members specializing in entrepreneurship and who work full-time for the Tech Garden, the region’s premier incubator organization.

 
SUNY Oswego International Students

International and Global Education Competency

The Microcredential will showcase a student's understanding, knowledge, and skill set relative to Global and intercultural competencies demonstrated through a combination of curricular courses and co-curricular experiences, activities, and events.

SUNY Oswego School of Business

Senior Analyst

Verifies students can assess a company's solvency & profitability status by calculating & interpreting a ratio analysis of a company's financial statements. Students can analyze a stock's price in relation to its earnings & make a recommendation to BUY/SELL the stock to their student sector leader in the Investment Club. It verifies students can design & execute a peer review process for their BUY/SELL recommendation, and make a presentation using appropriate tools to peers/industry professionals.

Here is the value for the student. First, they learn a new skill and then showcase that learned skill with a digital badge.

The student receives their badge through our partner Credly. 

Digital badges are the visual icons that represent your microcredential.  Credly is the platform SUNY Oswego uses to issue digital badges. Once you complete all of the requirements of your microcredential, they will be given instructions to accept Their badge through Credly.

Here is the best part.

The Student then shares their earned badge on digital resumes, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. This not only proves they learned the skill but also promotes your microcredential. 

What is a Digital Badge?

A digital badge is a new credential that will enable you to demonstrate particular skills you have gained through learning experiences. A digital badge is an icon that helps you stand out and shows employers that you know a specific skill set. Digital badges are credentials you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. Once you earn a badge, you own it. Digital badges will help you stand out on social media, and make you stand out on your digital resume.


Integrative Professional Studies

Students are turning microcredentials into a degree with our Integrative Professional Studies (IPS BS or BA degree. Want to know more? 

Learn more