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Micro-credentials provide diverse populations of learners with flexible, targeted and cost-effective ways to upskill, reskill and demonstrate competency in specific areas.

Historically, ²ÊÃñ±¦µä students and learners have had to self-advocate and share details about their various learning opportunities through the university. Now, in year five of its micro-credentials and digital badging initiative, ²ÊÃñ±¦µä is lauded as a national leader in credentials innovation.

Micro-credentials promote ²ÊÃñ±¦µä’s reach and reputation by creating a space for faculty and staff to innovate and credential learning that takes place beyond formal degrees and certificates. They facilitate the recognition of learning through the issuance of secure university-branded, portable and verifiable credentials.

Because the credentials landscape is evolving rapidly, there is urgency for the university to have a strategic, campus-wide approach to underscore the growing recognition of micro-credentials as a significant force in the future of higher education.

²ÊÃñ±¦µä recently moved from an operational stage of creating micro-credentials protocols and badging platforms to a strategic model. A Micro-credential Strategy and Leadership Task Force was formed to provide vision and guidance to university leadership in this transformative educational landscape. Recommendations developed by the task force will be instrumental in shaping our approach to micro-credentials and ensuring their effective and impactful implementation.

Employers are increasingly recognizing the value of micro-credentials, creating opportunities for us to collaborate with industry partners in their design and development to enhance the relevance of our programs and equip students with in-demand skills. New technologies like Learning and Employment Records (LERs) are also emerging to address employer needs for verifiable and standardized information about micro-credentials.

At ²ÊÃñ±¦µä, micro-credentials may be offered for credit by academic units or non-credit by academic or non-academic units. They may be stacked into larger credentials, generate new revenue streams and be designed for an expanded population of learners, including matriculated students, faculty, staff, community members and corporate partners.

Micro-credentials can be powerful tools to enhance student success and retention. By integrating them into academic programs, we offer students a competitive edge in the workforce. In addition, broader scale development and adoption of micro-credentials and a responsiveness to evolving learner demands positions the university to attract and retain a wider range of students.

Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information at microcredentials@colorado.edu.

Kristi Wold-McCormick is the assistant vice provost and university registrar