Proposal and Approval Process for Alternative Credentials
Departments or units wishing to offer a credit-bearing certificate should propose the program via the Office of the University Registrar’s Course Information Management (CIM) system.
When proposing other alternative credentials, faculty should take the following steps:
Confer with your campus online learning unit (Oxford or Regionals) before completing the proposal form.
For alternative credentials involving external industry or other partners, you should complete a Memorandum of Understanding with the external partner using the Miami-approved template. (Please contact the Associate Provost for the MoU template.) Submit the MoU via Buyway.
Alternative programs and MoUs expire after five years. Proposers may submit new proposals and MoUs following the expiration deadline.
Alternative credentials should be offered within traditional semesters or terms. Alternative credentials may not be correspondence programs.
If the instruction will be offered off campus, please contact Lori Minges Nicole Roberts (MU Police) for assistance.
Proposal Form
Before completing the proposal form, consider the following questions:
Who are the anticipated earners (target audience) of this credential? Matriculated, nonmatriculated, alumni, prospective new, employees of partnering company?
What type of credential are you considering (credit or noncredit certificate, microcredential, Professional Education, TechCred), and at what level (graduate, undergraduate, both)?
What’s the anticipated time to complete the credential? Less than a semester, one semester, etc.
Will this program lead to outside certification or industry credential?
Do you have a company or industry partner?
What are the learning outcomes for the credential?
How do you plan to assess the credential and its outcomes?
Does this micro-credential have the potential for “stackability” (e.g. leading to a Miami degree/major)?
What resources and academic support services will be needed for the students – e.g., additional staffing, advising, tutoring, financial aid, library, counseling?
Do you plan to charge a fee to participants? If yes, what will you charge?
How do you plan to market and communicate the program?
What form of recognition will students receive upon completion of the program? (Note: Alternative credentials are not transcripted.) For example, digital badge, certificate of completion, both?
