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Regulations & Policies

Academic Affairs

I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

This policy establishes the guidelines for the creation and management of graduate microcertificates which are earned through successful completion of graduate credit-bearing courses and designated by a digital badge. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the college dean(s) where the graduate microcertificate is housed and by the graduate school dean.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. Graduate microcertificates are comprised of 5 to 8-credits of related graduate credit-bearing courses that are directly related to in-demand workforce skills. Courses must be approved through the APC process before being submitted as part of a graduate microcertificate. Graduate microcertificates are approved through the Digital Badge Steering Committee process.
2. Students pursuing a graduate microcertificate must be a current graduate student, apply to ³ÉÈË´óƬas a post-baccalaureate student, or be enrolled in an accelerated pathway that includes a graduate microcertificate.
3. All course prerequisites must be included in the required coursework within the allowable credits for the graduate microcertificate. No course substitutions may be made for graduate microcertificate coursework.
4. Transfer of Credits Related to Graduate Microcertificate Programs
   1. When concurrently enrolled in a ³ÉÈË´óƬgraduate degree program, students can apply required coursework to both the graduate microcertificate and their chosen graduate degree, with the approval of the responsible program(s). Students cannot return for a retroactive graduate microcertificate following graduation.
   2. If a student who has completed a graduate microcertificate later returns to ³ÉÈË´óƬto earn a graduate degree, up to 12 credits earned toward a graduate microcertificate(s) may be applied to satisfy graduate degree requirements. Conversely, if a student later returns to earn a graduate microcertificate after obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree, credits earned in the completed degree can be applied to no more than fifty percent of the graduate microcertificate’s required credits. A course completed for one graduate microcertificate may count toward a second graduate microcertificate. Students who earn more than one graduate microcertificate that meet the course requirements for a graduate certificate must apply for the certificate program before they apply to be awarded the certificate. Any application of such credits must be approved by the graduate program.
   3. Graduate microcertificates are not viewed as a guaranteed means of entry into a graduate degree program. Students who have earned a graduate microcertificate and wish to return to ³ÉÈË´óƬto pursue a graduate degree program or certificate program will need to complete a new application with the Graduate School, and, if applicable, pay a new application fee.
   4. Students who have graduated from a ³ÉÈË´óƬgraduate degree or certificate program or completed a graduate microcertificate more than 3-semesters ago and wish to return to ³ÉÈË´óƬto pursue a graduate microcertificate will need to complete a new application with the Graduate School, and, if applicable, pay a new application fee.
5. Completion of Program Requirements 

   Students are subject to the individual requirements of the graduate microcertificate and must complete all course requirements at UNF.

6. Transcripts & Graduate Microcertificates

   Successful completion of the graduate courses will be recorded on the student's official transcript. Once the program coursework is satisfied the student will receive the graduate microcertificate as a digital badge.

History: New April 22, 2025.

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