Dear Faculty Colleagues,
I am writing to share important information about YSU’s new academic credentialing initiative, which recognizes skills and learning achieved through specific General Education courses. Beginning this semester, eligible students who complete designated courses may begin earning course-level badges that stack toward certified micro-credentials.
Student Rollout
Before the end of the semester, eligible students will receive instructions on:
• creating a Canvas Credentials account, and
• providing a non-YSU email address to retain access after graduation.
A targeted Blackboard communication campaign will guide students through the steps to create their Canvas Credentials account and access the credentialing link. This communication will also include direct access to the list of approved micro credentials and course badges on YSU’s website:
🔗 https://ysu.edu/general-education-program/microcredentials.
Credential Structure
Students earn:
• course-level badges for successful completion of approved General Education courses, and
• stacked credentials after completing three thematically related courses.
The four initial credential categories launching this semester include:
• Creative Thinking
• Critical Thinking
• Personal and Social Well-Being
• Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning
You may receive questions from students about these opportunities, so we hope this overview is helpful for your awareness.
Your Role as Faculty
Faculty will not be asked to complete any credentialing actions during Fall 2025.
For this initial launch, the IT/Blackboard Administrative Team will carry out the following actions:
Before the end of the Fall 2025 semester:
• add the non–credit-bearing credentialing assignment to each applicable Blackboard course shell, and
• deploy a targeted Blackboard communication plan to eligible students with step-by-step instructions on creating their Canvas Credentials account and providing a non-YSU email address.
After final grades are submitted:
• mark the credentialing assignment as complete for students who passed the course, and
• trigger the automatic creation of course-level badges in Canvas Credentials.
*It is important to note that the credentialing assignment will not affect the final course grade.
Beginning Spring 2026
The IT/Blackboard Administrative Team will continue to:
• insert the credentialing module and assignment into all applicable Blackboard shells each term, and
• ensure that students have access to instructions for creating their Canvas Credentials account and accessing the platform.
Faculty will only be responsible for:
• marking the credentialing assignment as passed for students who have successfully completed the course.
Beginning Summer 2026
The credentialing module and assignment will be automatically incorporated into the Blackboard Course Template for all applicable General Education courses to ensure consistent implementation across the university.
Institutional Value
Although these credentials will not appear on student transcripts, they offer students:
• verifiable, portable documentation of key learning outcomes,
• evidence of competencies gained in general education coursework, and
• meaningful tools to enhance résumés, LinkedIn profiles, email signatures, and graduate/professional applications.
This initiative positions YSU at the forefront of student-centered credentialing efforts and supports our ongoing alignment of General Education outcomes with workforce and graduate education expectations.
To support your understanding of the full implementation process, the Micro credential Workflow document provides a visual overview of each step:
🔗 Micro Credentials Overview – revised November 20, 2025 (PDF)
If questions arise or if you need further details, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your collaboration and support are truly appreciated as this initiative moves forward.
