September 2022 - Volume 1 - University of Maine System

University of Maine System Micro-Credential Initiative Newsletter

The UMS Micro-Credential Initiative is Growing!

Maine Badge Micro-Credential Pathway Image - Level 1, 2, 3, and Macro Badges

The UMS Micro-Credential Initiative started out as a small pilot with a few digital badges offered. Today, we have over 80 badges created by UMS faculty and staff teams with more on the way! Our micro-credentials serve youth, UMS students, faculty, and staff, as well as adult learners in our communities. About 2,000 badges have been issued, with many more expected to be issued over the coming months. All of our micro-credentials follow the same three-leveled framework, taking a learner from foundational knowledge to application of their skills in a real-world setting.

Topic areas include: Outdoor Leadership (youth), Innovation, Career Preparation, Global Competency, Leadership, Adult Teaching and Learning, and Aquaculture.

Collaboration is at the forefront of our work. The UMS micro-credentials themselves are based on collaboration and alignment across the system as well as the state. For example, we collaborated with the Maine Department of Education-Adult Education to create the Computer Support Specialist micro-credential for adult learners. UMS also partnered with the Education Design Lab (External Link), an internationally recognized non-profit based in Washington, D. C.

Do you have an idea for creating a UMS Micro-Credential?

Apply for a UMS Micro-Credential Mini-Grant

Proposal deadline: Monday, October 17, 2022, 5 p.m.
Funding: Up to $10,000

UMS is accepting proposals for the second round of UMS Micro-Credential mini-grant development. We encourage you to contact Claire Sullivan at claires@maine.edu to discuss your proposal idea prior to submission.

There will also be a Q&A Session on Zoom on Friday, September 9 2022 at 1 p.m. Join us for the Zoom session (External Link) to get more information.

For details on the proposal and requirements please visit UMS Micro-Credential 2022 Mini-Grant Request for Proposals website.

General inquiries can be sent to ums.mc@maine.edu. The list of first round recipients for 2021 can be found on the Fall 2021 Micro-Credential Mini-Grant Recipients website.

SAALT & the Adult Learning and Teaching Micro-Credential

Rucha Modak is a Senior Learning Designer at the Center for Technology Enhanced Learning (External Link) at the University of Southern Maine (USM). She directs the Summer Academy for Adult Learning and Teaching (External Link) (SAALT), a UMS-wide professional development academy focused on developing and implementing teaching and learning best practices for the adult non-traditional learner and to build a culture of faculty collaboration throughout the University of Maine System.

Innovation Micro-Credential

Renee Kelly is the Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development at the University of Maine’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development, which includes the Foster Center for Innovation (External Link). The center is a hub for innovative programs at UMaine and is “leading resource for innovation and commercialization,” in the state, according to their website. Kelly was recently named by MaineBiz as a 2022 Woman to Watch! Read the full profile on the MaineBiz website (External Link).

Learn more about this Initiative.

Take Our Micro-Credential Development Training

UMS offers a three-leveled micro-credential development training. Anyone in the state can complete the Level 1 training. It only takes an hour to complete! All those who meet the criteria will earn a UMS Level 1 badge that can be shared!

Development teams continue on to complete Level 2 and 3.

To learn more about the training please visit our micro-credential development website.
Register for the Level 1 UMS Micro-Credential Development training using our Google Form (External Link).

Student Spotlight – David Ledford

David Ledford is a fourth-year student at the University of Maine and an intern with the UMS Micro-Credential Initiative for the summer of 2022. A transfer student from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, David returned to Maine in 2020 to continue his education in his home state. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Journalism and expects to graduate in December. David earned the UMS Micro-Credential Development Level 1 badge, learning about the UMS framework and the benefits micro-credentials provide.

“I think that earning a badge like this, or any badge, demonstrates to others that you want to stand out and validate your skills… I also think that being able to share badges on LinkedIn and similar sites is a big draw.”

Visit the UMS Micro-Credential Website and our Badging Platform (External Link) for detailed information.

September 2022 – Volume 1