Ulster BOCES students are now able to show colleges and prospective employers evidence that they have field-specific skills, knowledge, and experiences in a particular topic, thanks to a new micro-credential series available to high school students in the Hudson Valley Pathways Academy and Career & Technical Center. 


Working with industry and community partners, who identified specific competencies they find important for employee success, Ulster BOCES has designed a series of mini-courses, with more being developed. Upon completion of the short, topic-focused mini-courses, students earn an Ulster BOCES certification badge that can be displayed on their resume and college application as evidence of competency in a particular area. 


An initial class of 43 students has completed the first micro-credential course offered, Introduction to Business. These students can now move on to the next in the series: Project Management. The courses are being offered in-person at the Ulster BOCES classrooms at SUNY Ulster in Stone Ridge, as well as virtually for students who are studying remotely.


According to Peter Harris, Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning at Ulster BOCES, badging is a concept that began making headlines around 2014 and is now commonly recognized in business and industry. “Earning an Ulster BOCES badge through a micro-credential course is a symbol to employers that the applicant can bring specific knowledge to their business,” he explains. “We’ve worked closely with our industry partners to identify the critical skills they feel their future employees need and are building a comprehensive catalog of micro-credential courses that tie directly to those identified competencies.”

Ulster BOCES students interested in participating in the micro-credential series should speak with their principal or guidance counselor. Find out more information on the micro-credential series here.