Deadline Extended for Applicants: Winter Faculty Bootcamp: Microcredential Mapping

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:21:43 -0400
badges, faculty, faculty-development, ler, ler-accelerator, microcredentials

UMBC continues to lead nationally in digital credentialing, granting over 3,500 microcredentials annually to more than 1,500 learners. These microcredentials allow students to demonstrate mastery of course outcomes in a way that directly aligns with NACE competencies, effectively connecting academic achievement with professional readiness.

As part of UMBC’s involvement in the Learning and Employment Record (LER) Accelerator Cohort, we are expanding microcredentials into for-credit courses and programs. To support this initiative, the Microcredential Mapping Bootcamp will give faculty the tools, guidance, and collaborative environment needed to design and propose microcredentials that align well with their existing courses.

About the Bootcamp

This two-day, hands-on workshop (Winter 2026) invites faculty from across disciplines to:

Explore the purpose and structure of microcredentials at UMBC.

Map course learning outcomes, assessments, and criteria to microcredentials.

Align proposals with UMBC’s taxonomy, NACE competencies, and the Microcredential Evaluation Rubric.

Draft and refine proposals with peer feedback and support from staff and the Microcredential Review Board (MRB).

This bootcamp is tentatively scheduled to take place in-person on January 21 and January 22, 2026.

By the end of the bootcamp, participants will leave with one or more complete proposals ready for MRB submission.

Faculty Preparation

Faculty are expected to come prepared with at least one course that has been previously taught and will be offered again. Bringing a current syllabus, learning outcomes, and key assignments will ensure that the curriculum mapping and proposal design work are grounded in actual teaching practice.

Incentives & Support

Faculty who complete the bootcamp will receive a $1,500 stipend, which covers:

Full participation in the two-day workshop

Submission and approval of one or more microcredential proposals by the MRB

Implementation of approved microcredentials in a for-credit course

Sharing project outcomes externally (such as a blog post, publication, or Provost’s Symposium presentation)

Breakfast and lunch will be provided both days, with ongoing support available from staff and MRB members after the bootcamp.

Core Planning Committee & Facilitators

Susan Biro, Manager, Online Learning

Allison Jones, Assistant Vice Provost, Extended Studies

Sally Scott, Graduate Program Director, Community Leadership

Collin Sullivan, Program Director, Digital Credential Innovation

Mary Ellen Wade, Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Planning

Crystal Williams, Assistant Vice Provost, Curriculum Development

For questions, please contact Collin Sullivan at collinsullivan@umbc.edu

Applications due date: Friday, October 31, 2025 at 5pm

Application Form

Draft Application in a Google Doc