2025 Badge Summit

Developing the necessary infrastructure to support microcredentials and digital badges requires thoughtful planning, coordination, and a realistic timeline. This session will provide a roadmap for institutions navigating this process based on the experience of the University of Colorado Denver. Key considerations such as integrating microcredentials into the Student Information System (SIS), defining the Registrar’s role in badge validation, program proposal and approval processes, and establishing learner records will be discussed. Attendees will be presented with the timeline of CU Denver’s activities, including what occurred sequentially and what occurred in tandem.  This session will offer practical strategies and lessons learned to help institutions build their own microcredential infrastructure.

This session will explore strategies to strengthen both academic and non-academic campus relationships to sustain and expand a successful micro-credential initiative. Attendees will gain insights on how to leverage campus relationships to utilize a robust taxonomy for offering diverse badge options for various learners. Discussion will include how to ensure MCs remain relevant and aligned with evolving industry needs, fostering lifelong learning opportunities for campus and community learners.  

The badging and digital credentials landscape for higher education providers is still viewed as the “Wild West.”   A pioneer in this space since 2018, California State University Dominguez Hills College of Continuing and Professional Education issues 30 credit and non-credit digital badges and certificates. More than 6,000 badges have been issued to learners through CCPE’s portfolio of upskilling and reskilling programs, including Project Management, Human Resource Management, OSHA, Digital Marketing, Business Analytics and many more.  
Digital badge microcredentials are vetted through a robust and rigorous curriculum review process.  Certificate programs are reviewed at the CCPE level (non-credit) or the Academic College and University level (credit).  This process is mandatory before a badge is conceptualized and continues through its issuance to the learner.  
 “What’s next” includes the implementation of Comprehensive Learner Records or digital backpacks/wallets/passports.  The goal is to create a self-sovereign model for managing digital awards. This empowers learners to have ownership and control of their digital credentials to maintain and share with employers,  for current and future for economic and social mobility.
Come learn how CSUDH operationalized digital badging issuance moving beyond the conceptual or proof of concept phase.