Kansas State University

K-State Microcredential Initiative update

Submitted by Jennifer Thornburg

The Kansas State University Microcredential Initiative will conclude its yearlong pilot phase at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.

More than 200 microcredentials have been awarded to date. Eight fall and 18 spring microcredential pilots spanned eight colleges and campuses and included undergraduate, graduate and noncredit offerings; in-person, online and hybrid formats; and new and existing audiences. Eighteen microcredential pilots are being offered this summer.

In June 2022, Faculty Senate approved a temporary policy for the pilot year. In April 2023, they approved a policy that establishes the approval process beyond the pilot phase. Below is a summary of the microcredential approval policy:

• Microcredentials approved for the 2022-2023 academic year will have their approval extended through the 2023-2024 academic year.
• Approval may be sought by any K-State major academic unit, which includes all colleges, the Graduate School, K-State Salina, K-State Olathe, K-State Libraries, K-State Research and Extension, and the Staley School of Leadership.
• Each major academic unit will establish an internal approval process for proposing a microcredential and will inform Graduate Council and Faculty Senate of their process.
• Interdisciplinary proposals can come from any college and only need official approval from one unit. All involved units will be queried for support prior to final approval of the microcredential.
• All requests for microcredential approval, whether credit or noncredit, must come from a major academic unit.
• Approval may be requested for a term not to exceed 18 months, a permanent approval or both.

The focus of the initiative this summer includes:

• Updating Curriculog approval forms for credit and noncredit approval requests for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• Launching the K-State microcredentials website. This site will host faculty and staff resources for developing microcredentials as well as microcredential opportunities for K-State and external audiences.

"We are where we are today with the microcredential initiative because of the dedicated service of so many across the university," said Karen Pedersen, dean of Global Campus. "Throughout the year, we kept the university community informed on our achievement of key milestones. Today, we have a comprehensive and scalable infrastructure poised to take K-State to new heights."

For more information about K-State microcredentials, contact microcred@k-state.edu.