Proposing Microcredentials

Who can propose? UMBC faculty and staff — for-credit or non-credit, curricular or co-curricular, undergraduate, graduate, or professional development.

The 6-step process: Short Form → Intake Consult → Long Form → Badge Build → MRB Review → Issuance

Ready to start? Complete the Short Form — takes 20 minutes or less.

1

Submit the Short Form (~20 minutes)

Begin by completing a brief online form describing your microcredential concept. Proposers will identify the proposed title, learning outcomes, earning criteria, and the experience where it will be offered.

Use the linked template if you wish to draft responses in advance. This submission notifies Digital Credential Innovation of your intent and initiates the workflow.

Draft a Short Form Submit a Short Form

2

Participate in an Intake Consultation

Once the short form is submitted, the proposer(s) will meet with the Program Director and any relevant stakeholders. This consultation clarifies your goals, ensures alignment across outcomes, assessments, and earning criteria, and confirms the proposal’s scope and feasibility. Proposers will leave the meeting with guidance for completing the long-form proposal.

3

Complete the Long-Form Proposal

The long-form proposal is the primary document reviewed by the Microcredential Review Board. It requires you to fully articulate the learning experience, demonstrate internal consistency, and connect the credential to externally recognized frameworks and competencies.

The long form includes:

  • Learning outcomes written to Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy at the appropriate level
  • Assessment strategy describing how each outcome is measured
  • A Microcredential Map — a structured table verifying coverage and alignment
  • Earning criteria that are specific, observable, and legible to external audiences
  • A NACE Career Readiness Competency Map
  • Evidence (required for Mastery; strongly encouraged for Proficiency and Knowledge)
  • Administrative details: evaluators, technology platform, and marketing plan

Templates for each credential type are available on the Types of Credentials page.

4

Badge Build and Technical Setup

Once the long form is received, Digital Credential Innovation will create a draft badge in UMBC’s digital credentialing platform. You will be invited to review the badge for accuracy, language, and clarity before it moves forward.

5

Microcredential Review Board (MRB) Evaluation

Completed proposals are evaluated by the Microcredential Review Board, which applies UMBC’s review rubric to assess alignment, rigor, relevance, and transparency. Feedback and revision requests will be shared with the proposer.

Once all criteria are met, the microcredential is approved for issuance and added to UMBC’s credential portfolio.

6

Issuing Microcredentials

After MRB approval, the microcredential is ready to be issued to learners. Issuance may occur through Blackboard integration or by submitting eligible earners through a secure ticketing process. Digital Credential Innovation supports both approaches.