January 2023 - Volume 2 - University of Maine System

Exciting News from the University of Maine System Micro-Credential Initiative

New Storefront – Course Merchant Pilot

After two years of planning, we launched an e-commerce pilot site for non-credit offerings. Learners can register for non-credit certificates, micro-credentials, and digital badges online through Discover, our new Course Merchant storefront (External Link)! Once registered, learners can quickly access course content in Brightspace.

Those involved in the pilot include:

UMS Micro-Credential Initiative
University of Maine School of Law
Maine Business School
University of Maine Cooperative Extension

With Discover, our learning opportunities are available to everyone. Learners can sign up without a University of Maine email address!

Dawnland: Maine Indian History Badge

Learn about the Indigenous Peoples of Maine

Dawnland – Maine Indian History is a newly developed University of Maine System badge that teaches learners about the history of Maine tribes. The badge was developed by John Bear Mitchell (External Link), the University of Maine’s Native American Waiver Coordinator and Wabanaki Center Outreach and Student Development Coordinator. He has been a lecturer of Wabanaki Studies and Multicultural Studies at the University of Maine in Orono for the past 20 years. Learners can register through Course Merchant.

Congratulations to our 2023 UMS Micro-Credential Mini-Grant Recipients!

We are pleased to announce funding of nine UMS micro-credential development mini-grants in diverse topic areas.

All seven UMS universities are represented on the development teams. Community organizations and State agencies are also partnering, making the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative a truly collaborative endeavor!

Some funded micro-credentials include topics such as Climate Ready Community, Nature-Based Learning, and the Future Teachers Academy.

Find out what micro-credentials were developed in 2022 and see what new ones are on the way!

Since the start of the initiative, 123 badges have been created. Nine new pathways were added to our original pathways in 2022, with another eight coming soon in 2023 in addition to our nine mini-grant micro-credentials. Micro-badges are also being developed to add granular skill sets to the mix and new partnerships are being made!

Examples of newly developed micro-credentials include: Financial Literacy, Introductory GIS Mapping and Analysis, and Maine Horticulture Apprenticeship.

View all badges and micro-credential pathways on our badging platform (External Link).

Much more to come in future newsletters!

See the list of new micro-credentials and others on the way

UMS Micro-Credential Development Training

Last year the University of Maine System Micro-Credential Initiative launched the UMS Micro-Credential Development course on Brightspace to give interested parties the opportunity to learn more about the UMS Micro-Credential Development process.

We encourage anyone in Maine interested in understanding how the University of Maine System approaches micro-credential development to complete the Level 1 course. It only takes about one hour to complete. Those who receive an 80% or better on the quiz and submit a reflection will earn the UMS Micro-Credential Development Level 1 badge (External Link) that can be shared on LinkedIn and other sites. Since the course was opened, we have issued 112 Level 1 badges.

What are faculty, staff, and others saying about the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative?

Positive comments about the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative’s approach and benefits to learners and employers were made by many UMS Micro-Credential Development Level 1 badge (External Link) earners.

“I like that the credential framework is standardized and consists of levels to scaffold learning. The fact that there is management of the development process to inspire collaboration and to prevent duplication is a good practice and method of quality control. I think there will be a lot of interest in the micro-credentials due to the ability to develop professionally at your own pace.” -Tina Daigle, Learning Experience Designer

The University of Maine at Presque Isles’ Implementation of Micro-Credentials

Nicole Fournier, Director of Career Readiness, and Shannon Sleeper, Director of University Experience and Experiential Learning with the Title III Project, both at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (External Link) (UMPI), recently took some time to answer some questions about micro-credentials.

Student Spotlight – Seana Annable

Hometown: Milbridge, ME

Major: Business Administration – Management

Occupation: Administrative Specialist – The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center

Originally from Milbridge, Maine, Seana Annable is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Business Management online. She also works as an Administrative Specialist in the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine. Being a non-traditional adult learner and an employee, can present multiple challenges, yet Seana is finding the time to develop a variety of skills through her participation in the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative.

A special thank you to David Ledford, who was the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative’s intern for Summer and Fall 2022. His contributions to the newsletters this year via extensive interviews, article drafts, and editing were invaluable. Congratulations on your graduation and best of luck in your new position!

January 2023 – Volume 2