Alternative Credentials Graduate Guidelines - Badges

Guidelines for Graduate Badges 

Modified from the undergraduate guidelines (Academic Affairs Committee)

DEFINITION:  Alternative pathways1 are 1) less than a degree, such as credit bearing certificates and badges; 2) tools to evaluate a student’s ability to demonstrate competency in discrete areas, and 3) combined together, can fulfill the requirements of certificate programs that meet workforce demands and match the mission and culture of Wichita State University.2 As a standalone option, they are not degrees.

  • Badges: Typically .5 credit hours and demonstrate competency in discrete areas. Amounts more than .5 will need to be justified in the proposal and increase in increments of .25 (e.g. .75, 1.25). The minimum requirement for instruction for a .5 credit hour badge, would be 7.5 hours of direct instruction and 15 hours of out-of-classroom work per the Federal definition and assignment of credit hours.

POTENTIAL STUDENTS include:  

  • Students seeking skills or knowledge in a focused area for which we have no degree.
  • Students seeking more flexibility in obtaining just-in-time credentialing, such as licensed professionals, who would use badges as proof of updated skills and knowledge.

COURSE WORK:  Badges can be awarded for approved academic work completed in workshops, short courses, or for parts of a regular course, such as modules or units, in which there may be a need or it may be useful to award credit for less than a full credit hour. Upon successful completion, badge credits would be awarded as “badged” or BG credit.3

MANAGEMENT:  An alternative pathway may be housed in a single department or institute, or may be interdepartmental, or even inter-college.  In all cases, the alternative pathway is proposed and managed by faculty having an interest in awarding badges or providing stackable pathways through the established curriculum.  Normally one faculty member serves as the alternative pathways coordinator for the department awarding credit this way. The Office of Workforce, Professional, and Community Education (WPCE) will assist departments in determining the market for such programs.  Students will be directed to the Office of WPCE for assistance in enrolling in a particular program.  

ELIGIBILITY:  Graduate students seeking to enroll in alternative pathways must be admitted to Wichita State University’s Graduate School, meeting the requirements of Non-degree, Category A.4

DEGREE OVERLAP: If approved as such, students may use alternative pathway course work toward an eventual degree or certificate.

APPROVAL PROCESS:  Proposals for new graduate alternative pathways should be processed by way of the curriculum routing form starting in the department and if appropriate routed to the Academic Affairs Committee before final approval by the Provost and Senior Vice President.  The proposal shall contain:

  • The title of the proposed alternative pathway
  • Objectives
  • Demonstration of need
  • A detailed description and rationale for the pathways through an already established curriculum
  • A plan for offering a sequence of courses that allows completion of the requirements
  • Exceptional circumstances that favor the development of the proposed alternative pathway
  • Organization of the program, including identification of…
    • Faculty associated with the alternative pathway, normally those who expect to teach courses in the alternative pathway curriculum. Badges have been identified as subject matter that will be delivered voluntarily outside of the typical course-load expectations. Deviations from this should be with faculty consent.
    • A coordinator responsible for management of the alternative pathway, for advising students, etc.5
    • Statements of support from chairs and deans whose programs and faculty are involved in the proposed alternative pathway. Colleges and departments may have procedures for faculty approval that must be respected as well. Statements from representatives of any program, department, or college on which the proposed alternative pathway will have an impact.
    • An assessment plan for the alternative pathway must be included. The plan should include how the quality of the pathway will be monitored. The plan should also include narrative on how continuation and duration of the pathway will be determined.
    • Prior to submitting a proposal for an alternative pathway, it is the responsibility of the originating unit to consult with the Offices of Academic Affairs and Financial Aid to determine whether the proposal triggers Gainful Employment Rules as determined by the U.S. Department of Education (i.e., whether the pathway would be eligible for Federal Financial Aid consideration). If the program is a Gainful Employment program, Federal regulations require a university to disclose, inter alia, the following information about the program on the university’s website and in materials promoting the alternative pathway:
    • Tuition and fees;
    • Costs of books, supplies, room and board;
    • On-time completion rate for students completing the requirements;
    • Job placement rates; and
    • The median loan debt incurred by students who completed the program.
  • Curriculum routing sheet with the appropriate departmental, college, graduate school, and university signatures.  
CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL:
Principles for assessing the academic quality of proposals:
  • A demonstrated need must exist.
  • Course work should offer clear educational objectives at the graduate level.
  • Deans, chairs, and other administrators will address resource issues in their statement of support.

RECOGNITION:  Students completing a graduate alternative pathway will receive an appropriately worded designation, such as an electronic badge signifying that it was issued by WSU and what was required to complete the badge. Notation will be made on the student's transcript when a badge or certificate has been awarded.

PROMOTION:  Approved graduate alternative pathways will be listed in the Graduate Catalog (print and web versions), and Schedule of Courses. Departments may choose to promote their options for alternative pathways through other venues. The WPCE website will also include information relevant to graduate badges and their possible use with degrees. No promotional materials should be created that do not clearly identify potential limits on graduate coursework where applicable.

DURATION AND REVIEW:  Graduate alternative pathways will exist as long as the department, college, or graduate school assessment data support a need for the option.

QUALITY:  

  • The courses offered for graduate credit must be taught by faculty with expertise in the area of the offering and graduate faculty status. 
  • Graduate alternative pathways are initially approved through a process defined and monitored by the Graduate School and are periodically reviewed during the home program’s review process.

 

1Alternative pathways are targeted at specific audiences, often persons seeking specialized information for a job.  Upon completion of the alternative pathway, the badge serves as a bolster to employability as a job applicant or improves chances of advancement within a current job.    

2Certification, not a certificate, is a process that assures that students meet certain standards within their program of study. These standards are usually specified by an external board. For example, teacher certification standards are set by the Kansas State Board of Education and are implemented, in part, through the content of various courses.  Students who take the appropriate courses and meet other required standards become certified to teach in the State of Kansas.   

3The Graduate School has limits as to 1) how many non-graded courses may be used on a plan of study 2) how many courses may be transferred to a degree program from a non-degree status and 3) how long courses are valid before expiring or needing course validation for the plan of study (see Graduate Catalog). These norms will be important for programs who want to use badges as a marketing tool to recruit for degree programs. WPCE will incorporate these concerns in a FAQ section on their website.

4For tracking and/or data purposes, a new code will be developed for this category (i.e. guests/badges).

5All faculty and coordinators should have the appropriate graduate faculty status.

 

Certificate - Graduate Program Proposal Guidelines

Wichita State University Graduate School

Guidelines for the Development of Graduate Certificates

DEFINITION: Graduate certificates are awarded by departments, colleges, and the Graduate School to recognize graduate-level accomplishment in a cluster of related graduate courses. They serve as the student's record of coherent academic accomplishment. They are not degrees, concentrations, minors, or certification programs. Some certificates are “free-standing” for students who desire focused graduate level education, but who may not wish to pursue a graduate degree. Alternatively, certificates can be pursued by degree bound students to highlight a particular emphasis area or as “modular” components of the degree program.  

COURSE WORK: Graduate certificate programs typically consist of 4 to 6 graduate courses (12 to 18 credit hours). Significant departures from this range will require justification in the proposal. No more than 1/3 of the required course work should be S/U graded. Graduate badges are exempt from this limit because Bg grades are associated with a higher quality of work equivalent to a letter grade of a B. Transfer hours are usually not acceptable for certificate programs.

MANAGEMENT: A certificate program may be housed in a single department or span multiple academic units. In either case, the certificate program is proposed and managed by a steering committee of faculty having an interest in the certificate program. Normally one faculty member serves as certificate program coordinator and convener for the steering committee. Note that certificate steering committees can perfectly overlap the steering committee for other certificate programs.

ELIGIBILITY: Students seeking graduate certificates must be admitted to the Graduate School in a degree program or in non-degree A status. All Graduate School policies relative to admissions apply. Eligibility criteria particular to the proposed certificate program (course or degree prerequisites, TOEFL scores, language or tool requirements, etc.) should be defined in the certificate program proposal.  

International students will not be issued an I-20 for certificate programs alone. They may obtain a certificate only while concurrently pursuing a graduate degree.

Students pursuing a graduate certificate must notify the program area (in a written memo) that they wish to complete the certificate before completing the required courses via the submitted Plan of Study. Requests to complete the certificate are reviewed by the program faculty and the Dean of the Graduate School.

DEGREE OVERLAP: Students may usually use certificate course work toward an eventual degree. Exceptions should be noted in the certificate program proposal.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:  A cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 3.00 for all courses comprising the certificate program and no grades below C. Badges that were not earned (NBg) cannot be used on the Plan of Study. Each certificate program should offer a sequence of courses that allows completion of the program requirements in a defined amount of time. 

COMPLETION PROCESS: Notify the program area in writing of intent to complete the certificate. Do the following in the semester the certificate requirements are met: 

  • Prepare (with graduate advisor) and submit (to the Graduate School) a Plan of Study (for the certificate)
  • Submit an Application for Degree (for the certificate) with a $15.00 filling fee to the Graduate School no later than 20th day of fall or spring semester or the 10th day of a summer term

APPROVAL PROCESS:  Curriculum Change Forms for new certificate programs should go through the standard formal review process, including the Graduate Council, and should include all components listed below. Normally one semester should be allowed for the approval process.

  • Title of the proposed certificate program
  • Certificate program objectives
  • Demonstration of need
  • Detailed description and rationale for the curriculum, including a summary of how the certificate fits in the unit’s larger objectives
  • Plan for offering a sequence of courses that allows completion of the program requirements in a defined amount of time
  • Program organization, including identification of:
    • Faculty associated with the certificate program, normally those who expect to teach courses in the certificate program curriculum
    • A steering committee of graduate faculty identified with the certificate program representing a subset of #1 
    • A committee chair or coordinator responsible for management of the certificate program, for advising students, etc.
  • Statements of support from chairs and deans whose programs and faculty are involved in the proposed certificate program. Statements from representatives of any program, department, or college on which the proposed certificate program will have an impact.
  • Assessment plan that describes how program quality of the program will be monitored. The plan should also include narrative on how continuation and duration of the program will be determined.

GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES: After the proposal is approved by the dean of the Graduate School, the Offices of Academic Affairs and Financial Aid will determine whether the proposed program is a gainful employment program, as defined by U.S. Department of Education Program Integrity regulations (i.e., a program that is at least one year in length, leads to a certificate or other non-degree recognized credential, and prepares student for gainful employment in a recognized occupation). A certificate program that is eligible for federal financial aid and is determined to be a gainful employment program must comply with disclosure and reporting requirements. Federal regulations require a university to disclose, inter alia, the following information about the program on the university’s website and in materials promoting the certificate program:

  • Tuition and fees
  • Costs of books, supplies, room and board
  • On-time graduation rate for students completing the program
  • Job placement rates
  • The median loan debt incurred by students who completed the program
  • Curriculum routing sheet with the appropriate departmental, college and university signatures

CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL: The principles for assessing the academic quality of proposals are listed below. Deans, chairs, and other administrators will address resource issues in their statement of support.

  • Demonstrated need
  • Course work should offer clear educational objectives at the graduate level
  • Course work comprising the certificate program must be an integrated and organized sequence of study

RECOGNITION: Students completing the certificate program will receive an appropriately worded certificate, provided by the Registrar. A notation will be made on the student's transcript when the certificate has been awarded.

PROMOTION: Approved graduate certificate programs will be listed in the Graduate Catalog and advertised appropriately. 

QUALITY AND ASSESSMENT: All WSU courses for graduate credit are taught by graduate faculty who have been reviewed for currency in their subject matter, scholarship or creative work, and teaching experience appropriate to teaching in specific graduate certificate programs. Certificate programs are initially approved through the process defined. Certificate programs are normally approved for three years, after which they will be reviewed and recommended for continuation or discontinuation.  

Certificate - Undergraduate Program Proposal Guidelines

Wichita State University

 Academic Affairs Committee

Guidelines for Undergraduate Certificate Programs

DEFINITION:  Undergraduate certificates are awarded by departments and colleges to recognize accomplishment in a cluster of related courses on a topic, skill, theme, or method, as defined by the appropriate faculty.  They serve as the student's record of coherent academic accomplishment.  They are not degrees, concentrations, minors (see below *), or certification programs (see below **).

POTENTIAL STUDENTS include:  

  • students seeking skills or knowledge in a focused area for which we have no degree, major,  minor, or concentration.
  • students who desire interdisciplinary course work to complement their degree program.  

COURSE WORK:  Undergraduate certificate programs typically consist of 4 to 6 undergraduate courses (12 to 18 credit hours).  Significant departures from this range will require justification in the proposal.  No more than 1/3 of the required course work should be S/U graded.  Transfer hours are usually not acceptable for certificate programs.

MANAGEMENT:  An undergraduate certificate program may be housed in a single department, or may be interdepartmental, or even inter-college.  In both cases, the certificate program is proposed and managed by faculty having an interest in the certificate program.  Normally one faculty member serves as certificate program coordinator.

ELIGIBILITY:   Undergraduate students seeking to enroll in courses for a certificate program must be admitted to Wichita State University.  They may be in either degree or non degree   status.  International students may enroll in certificate programs but must maintain compliance with their visa requirements.  Students should contact the coordinator of the certificate program or the department chair where the certificate is offered to inform them of their interest in enrolling in the program.  Certificate programs may have a separate admission process.   

DEGREE OVERLAP: Students may usually use certificate course work toward an eventual degree.  Exceptions should be noted in the certificate program proposal.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:  A cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 2.00 for all courses comprising the certificate program and no grades below C.   Each certificate program should offer a sequence of courses that allows completion of the program requirements in a defined amount of time.  

APPROVAL PROCESS:  Proposals for new undergraduate certificate programs should be processed by way of the curriculum routing form to the Academic Affairs Committee before final approval by the Provost and Senior Vice President.  The proposal shall contain:

  • the title of the proposed certificate program
  • program objectives
  • demonstration of need
  • a detailed description and rationale for the curriculum 
  • a plan for offering a sequence of courses that allows completion of the program requirements in a defined amount of time
  • exceptional circumstances that favor the development of the proposed certificate program 
  • organization of the program, including identification of
    • Faculty associated with the certificate program, normally those who expect to teach courses in the certificate program curriculum
    • A coordinator responsible for management of the certificate program, for advising students, etc.
  • Statements of support from chairs and deans whose programs and faculty are involved in the proposed certificate program.  Colleges and departments may have procedures for faculty approval that must be respected as well.  Statements from representatives of any program, department, or college on which the proposed certificate program will have an impact.
  • An assessment plan for the program must be included.  The plan should include how the quality of the program will be monitored.  The plan should also include narrative on how continuation and duration of the program will be determined.
  • Prior to submitting a proposal for a certificate program, it is the responsibility of the originating unit to consult with the Offices of Academic Affairs and Financial Aid to determine whether the proposed program is a gainful employment program, as defined by U.S. Department of Education Program Integrity regulations (i.e., a program that is at least one year in length, leads to a certificate or other non-degree recognized credential, and prepares student for gainful employment in a recognized occupation).  A certificate program that is eligible for federal financial aid and is determined to be a gainful employment program must comply with disclosure and reporting requirements.  Federal regulations require a university to disclose, inter alia, the following information about the program on the university’s website and in materials promoting the certificate program:
    • Tuition and fees; 
    • Costs of books, supplies, room and board; 
    • On-time graduation rate for students completing the program;
    • Job placement rates; and 
    • The median loan debt incurred by students who completed the program.
  • Curriculum routing sheet with the appropriate departmental, college and university signatures.  

CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL: Principles for assessing the academic quality of proposals:

  • A demonstrated need must exist.
  • Course work should offer clear educational objectives at the undergraduate level.
  • Course work comprising the certificate program must be an integrated and organized sequence of study
  • Deans, chairs, and other administrators will address resource issues in their statement of support.

RECOGNITION:  Students completing an undergraduate certificate program will receive an appropriately worded certificate.  Notation will be made on the student's transcript when a certificate has been awarded.

PROMOTION:  Approved undergraduate certificate programs will be listed in the Undergraduate Catalog (print and web versions), and Schedule of Courses.  Departments may choose to promote their programs through other venues.

DURATION AND REVIEW:  Undergraduate certificate program will exist as long as the department or college assessment data support a need for the program.

QUALITY:  

  • The courses offered for undergraduate credit must be taught by faculty with expertise in the area of the certificate offering and appropriate advanced degrees.  
  • Students must maintain at least a 2.00 grade point in the certificate classes to qualify for the certificate at the end of the program. 
  • Undergraduate certificate programs are initially approved through a process defined and monitored by the Academic Affairs Committee and are periodically reviewed at an interval of approximately three years.

*Minors and concentrations are usually embedded within existing degree programs; certificate programs may, but are not usually embedded within existing degree programs.  Certificate programs are targeted at specific audiences, often persons seeking specialized information for a job.  Upon completion of the certificate program, the certificate serves as a credential that bolsters employability as a job applicant or improves chances of advancement within a current job.    

**Certification is a process that assures that students meet certain standards within their program of study.  These standards are usually specified by an external board.  For example, teacher certification standards are set by the Kansas State Board of Education and are implemented in part, through the content of various courses.  Students who take the appropriate courses and meet other required standards become certified to teach in the State of Kansas.