Micro-Credentials and Digital Badges Administration Policy

Effective: July 1, 2026 

Approved by: Justin Schwartz, Chancellor  

Policy Owner: Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning and Assessment   

Policy Contact: Assistant Vice Provost and University Registrar 

Supersedes: N/A 

Applies to: Students 

I. Introduction

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) recognizes the growing importance of micro-credentials in providing flexible, targeted learning experiences that support workforce readiness, lifelong learning, and academic achievement. This policy establishes the framework for offering, approving, and assessing micro-credentials and the digital badges that recognize micro-credentials at CU Boulder. It outlines credential categories, approval pathways, and expectations for transparency, rigor, and consistency. This policy does not address, and is inapplicable to, credentials such as gainful certificate programs that an external entity requires the Board of Regents to approve, as addressed by Regent Law, Article 4, Part B and Administrative Policy Statement (APS) 1040: Board of Regent Approval for Non-Degree Credentials. 

II. Definitions

Micro-credential: A short, structured, and verifiable outcome-based learning opportunity that offers competency- or skills-based recognition and that generally comprises measurable and assessable learning achievements or outcomes. A micro-credential does not result in the awarding of an academic degree, certificate or minor, although a credit-based micro-credential may be included as part of an academic degree, certificate, or minor. 

Micro-credential digital badge: A verifiable and portable digital representation of a learner’s earned skills, accomplishments or proficiencies acquired through micro-credentials that empowers learners to independently share and display their micro-credentials.  

Credit-based micro-credential: A micro-credential consisting of credit-bearing coursework that is smaller than an academic certificate program or academic minor and typically includes multiple credit-bearing elements. These micro-credentials are part of CU Boulder’s academic portfolio and may be developed and awarded only by CU Boulder academic units.  

Non-credit micro-credential: A micro-credential that does not result in academic credit or transcripted recognition, that may include activities such as industry certifications, portfolios, and experiential learning, and may be offered by academic or non-academic units.  

Recognition badge: A badge awarded for attendance at or participation in a program, event, or activity. Recognition badges are not equivalent to micro-credentials, are distinct from micro-credential digital badges in both design and description, and do not require formal approval. 

Academic unit: For the purposes of this policy, any CU Boulder unit that offers credit-bearing courses for either degree-seeking or non-degree students. 

III. Roles and Responsibilities

Academic and Non-Academic Units: Develop, propose, and maintain micro-credentials meeting institutional standards for rigor, outcomes, and relevance. 

Academic Chairs, Directors, and Deans: Review and approve micro-credential proposals; ensure alignment with academic goals, curricular standards, and tuition or fee policies; and ensure structure, verification, and assessment quality. 

Non-Academic Unit Directors: Review and approve non-credit micro-credentials; and ensure structure, verification, and assessment quality. 

Office of the Registrar: Administers proposal routing; maintains records; and confers official digital badges.  

Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning and Assessment: Provides final approval and ensures institutional integrity and alignment and oversees compliance, review cycles, and consistency across credentials. 

IV. Policy Statement

  1. CU Boulder’s framework for micro-credentials adheres to the following guiding values and principles: 
    1. Micro-credentials foster creativity and innovation in recognizing learning and achievement. 
      1. Micro-credentials serve as meaningful recognitions and credentials of specific skills and competencies gained through verifiable learner achievements. 
      2. Micro-credentials achieve consistency and ensure confidence and trust in the quality of the credential by stating clear learning outcomes and earning criteria that are regularly assessed according to institutionally defined standards. 
      3. Micro-credentials are approved through appropriate institutional governance. 
      4. Tuition and fees for micro-credentials adhere to established CU Boulder guidelines and approval protocols. 
      5. Micro-credentials are recognized through micro-credential digital badges, which are distinguishable in design and description from recognition badges, which are not equivalent to micro-credentials and do not require formal approval. 
  2. CU Boulder offers the following categories of micro-credentials: 
    1. Credit-based micro-credentials: 
      1. May be offered only by CU Boulder academic units;  
      2. Must be smaller than academic certificates in the number of credits required; 
      3. Are composed either of multiple credit-bearing courses or of one course bundled with experiential components (e.g., capstone projects, case competitions, industry certifications, or internships) that give students the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate skills and competencies; 
      4. Must have clearly stated written and measurable learning outcomes; 
      5. Are encouraged, but are not required, to employ evidence artifacts such as portfolios and project samples for validating or assessing learners; 
      6. May be stand-alone or may be stackable with designated companion micro-credentials into other credentials such as certificates; and 
      7. Incur tuition and fee assessments according to students’ status, program, and level. 
    2. Non-credit micro-credentials: 
      1. May be offered by either academic or non-academic CU Boulder units; 
      2. Must provide structured, verifiable learning experiences; 
      3. May not require any transcripted recognition or credit-bearing elements; 
      4. Must require a minimum of 10 hours of learning experiences, including instruction or experiential learning. Must have clearly stated written and measurable learning outcomes; 
      5. Must require evidence artifacts for validating or assessing learners (e.g., portfolios or presentations, supervisor testimonials, completion of industry or association certifications, performance tasks, experiential learning outputs, or other digital badges with embedded evidence); 
      6. May not use contact hours covered through learning experiences as the sole factor in validating or assessing learners;  
      7. May be stand-alone or may be stackable with designated companion micro-credentials into larger micro-credentials; and 
      8. May incur assessed fees for learners. 

V. Procedures

  1. Proposals for new and modified micro-credentials follow a review process coordinated by the Office of the Registrar. 
  2. The approval process for a proposed micro-credential begins with an intent proposal specifying proposed elements of the program, which must undergo a preliminary review prior to full proposal submission. 
  3. Credit-based and non-credit micro-credential programs proposed by academic units require approval by: 
    1. Department chair(s) of the unit(s) in which either credit-bearing or experiential activity is offered; 
    2. Academic dean(s), with the assistance of any curriculum committee(s) advisory to the dean; 
    3. The dean and vice provost for undergraduate or graduate education, as appropriate; and 
    4. The vice chancellor for academic planning and assessment. 
  4. Non-credit micro-credentials from non-academic units require approval by the head or director of the proposing division or department. 
  5. All micro-credentials must be reviewed regularly to confirm continued relevance, student or learner demand and alignment with learning objectives. Credit-based micro-credentials will be reviewed according to the cycle established by the Office of the Provost for academic program review as part of the program review of the sponsoring academic unit. Non-credit micro-credentials will be reviewed by the head or director of the sponsoring division or department, according to a cycle established by the Office of Academic Planning and Assessment in collaboration with the Office of the Registrar. 
  6. Additional approval, review, and reporting steps may apply if required by Regent law, Regent policy, University of Colorado (CU) policy or state law. 
  7. The Office of the Registrar supervises the format and conferral of digital badges for students or learners who complete micro-credentials. 

VI. Related policies, forms, guidelines, and other resources 

VII. History 

  1. Adopted: July 1, 2026
  2. Revised: N/A
  3. Last Reviewed: N/A