During Winter 2026, we held a Microcredential Mapping bootcamp for faculty and the Designing Learning & Microcredentials Beyond the Classroom series for staff. We received strong interest in both of these experiences, but heard that the commitment to a synchronous, face-to-face experience did not accommodate everyone's schedules. We're happy to share that "From Authentic Learning to Competency Recognition: Designing Microcredentials at UMBC," an asynchronous online course, is now open for enrollment on Blackboard.

Whether you are a faculty or staff member, if you've been circling the idea of a microcredential for your program, workshop, or course but weren't sure where to start, this is the on-ramp. The course is asynchronous and self-paced; you move through eight modules on your own schedule, with built-in reflection and drafting at each stage. There's no assigned meeting time and no deadline pressure. Most people can spend a few weeks working through it, largely because you're building your actual proposal alongside the content, which is the point.

The arc is simple: start with a learning experience you already run, figure out whether it's ready to create a microcredential, and end with a submission-ready package. By the end, you'll have a Short Form and potentially a draft Long Form proposal ready to bring to the Digital Credential Innovation (DCI) office, which then carries you through badge development and Microcredential Review Board (MRB) submission.

What you'll walk away able to do:

• Explain how UMBC's microcredential system works, start to finish

• Evaluate whether a learning experience is actually ready for a microcredential

• Write learning outcomes and design assessments that hold up under review

• Apply UMBC's Microcredential Taxonomy to land on the right credential level

• Submit a proposal that meets the MRB rubric on the first pass

The course has its own microcredential ecosystem, which is a nice bonus: seven Knowledge microcredentials (one per module), an Engagement microcredential for full participation, a Meta microcredential that issues automatically once you've earned the rest, and a Proficiency microcredential for those who carry their proposal all the way through MRB approval and real-world issuance. All of it lives on our badge-issuing platform, so it's shareable on LinkedIn or in promotion and tenure materials, just like any other microcredential.

Ready to get started? Enroll in the Blackboard course shell here ↗ 

You can also review the full syllabus here before you dive in.

Questions in the meantime? Check us out on the web, review our FAQs, or submit a ticket to contact the DCI team directly.

If your office, department, or unit offers a microcredential, there's a simple way to feature it directly on your Sites@UMBC page — no web development experience needed.

Embed any microcredential from our Accredible-powered digital badge platform with a single line of code in your visual editor. Visitors to your page will see the badge and a link to learn more without leaving your site.

It's a small thing that can make a real difference for offices that want to contextualize the credentials they offer and drive interest from students, staff, and community members.

Check out the FAQ for step-by-step instructions, and reach out if you have questions.

Special shout-out and thanks to Billy Schneider from DoIT and the Sites@UMBC team for getting this implemented! 

UMBC is transitioning its digital credentialing platform from Parchment Digital Badges (formerly Canvas Credentials/Badgr) to Accredible. This move supports continued growth in microcredentials while expanding how learners can access, share, and build on their achievements over time.

While the platform is changing, the impact for most users should be minimal. Existing badges remain valid, and the overall experience of earning and sharing credentials will feel familiar.

What’s New

With Accredible, UMBC is introducing several enhancements for both microcredential earners and program leads:

• Improved analytics to better understand engagement and outcomes
• Expanded sharing and messaging tools to help learners promote their achievements
• A unified digital wallet where all UMBC credentials can live in one place
• Support for long-term credential curation, aligned with emerging Learning and Employment Record practices

These updates position UMBC to better connect learning with career pathways and support learners beyond a single course or experience.

For Current Badge Earners

If you earned a UMBC digital badge within the past year, you should have received an email from Accredible notifying you that your badge(s) have been re-issued on the new platform.

A few important notes:

• Your original badge on the previous platform is still intact
• This is the same microcredential, now available in Accredible
• You may receive multiple emails if you earned more than one badge
• All future UMBC badges will be issued through Accredible

The transition is designed to consolidate your credentials into a single, more flexible platform while preserving everything you’ve already earned.

Accessing Your Credentials

You can view and manage your digital badges at: digitalbadges.umbc.edu

For guidance on using and sharing your credentials, visit Accredible Support. Our UMBC FAQs will be updated soon.

Questions

For questions or support, please contact the Digital Credential Innovation Team by submitting an RT ticket.

What This Series Will Do

Why This Matters

Who Should Apply

Meeting Dates

• Welcome & The Experiential Syllabus as a Design Tool: March 13 | 1-2pm | Virtual 
• From Program Descriptions to Learning Outcomes: March 27 | 1-2pm | Virtual
• Evidence of Learning and Authentic Assessment: April 10 | 1-2pm | Virtual
• Microcredentials as Learning Documentation at UMBC: April 24 | 1-2pm | Virtual
• Making Learning Visible: Earning Criteria, Skills, and Competencies: May 1 | 1-2pm | Virtual
• Connecting Experiences: Pathways, Stacking, and Next Steps: TBD by cohort members | Face-to-face

Missed the Kickoff?

Application Details

Questions?