Inclusive Research Mentoring Micro-Credential—April 23, 2025

Academia thrives by exhibiting inclusive mentoring in research, teaching, and service of students, staff, and faculty members. Inclusive mentoring in research is especially necessary to provide equitable opportunities for marginalized students and scholars, promote the creation and sharing of diverse ideas, and help students of all backgrounds feel supported and safe as they work on challenging research projects. However, many academics may not have formal training on how to exhibit inclusive research mentoring.

In response to this limitation, the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) and the Graduate School at CU Boulder offer an Inclusive Research Mentoring (IRM) micro-credential, which is offered to graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff members. This free course aims to help participants:

Enhance their mentoring skills;
Advance inclusive practices to foster inclusive environments;
Develop leadership abilities to better guide mentees through the research process;
Expand career opportunities by earning a digital badge; and
Network with peers to help create a collaborative mentoring network.

Participants must complete seven steps to earn the IRM micro-credential, including pre- and post-program mentor self assessment and attending three DEI-focused workshops to enhance awareness and implementation of inclusive mentoring practices. Following the program, participants will earn a digital badge to verify the enrollment and completion of the IRM course.

To find out more about the IRM micro-credential, interested participants can read more here. In addition to the IRM micro-credential, the CTL offers additional micro-credentials, including the Just & Equitable Teaching (JET) micro-credential. To find out more about the micro-credentials offered by the CTL, read here.