Micro-Credential Oversight Council

Micro-Credentials Oversight Council (MCOC)

The Micro-Credentials Oversight Council (MCOC) is a university-level governance body established under the authority of the Office of the Provost to ensure that all micro-credentials, digital badges, and non-credit credentials offered by Southern Methodist University meet the highest standards of academic quality, integrity, and institutional alignment.

The Council reviews, evaluates, and recommends approval of all proposed micro-credentials and digital badges to ensure that they:

• Align with SMU’s mission and strategic priorities 

• Maintain appropriate academic rigor and integrity 

• Include clearly defined learning outcomes and meaningful assessment methods 

• Comply with university, state, and accreditor standards 

• Are accurately represented in digital records and transcript systems 

• Are supported by sustainable operational, financial, and technological plans 

Through this work, the Council ensures that SMU’s micro-credentials are credible, high-quality representations of student learning and professional skill attainment.

What the Council Does

The MCOC serves as the central review and advisory body for micro-credential activity across the university. Its responsibilities include:

• Reviewing proposals for new digital badges, micro-credentials, and non-credit certificates for academic and operational alignment 

• Verifying compliance with internal and external quality standards, including learning outcomes, assessment, and data management 

• Recommending approval, revision, or denial of proposals to the Provost through the Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness 

• Advising on policies governing the creation, maintenance, retirement, and communication of micro-credentials 

• Collaborating with the Registrar and OIT to ensure appropriate integration with digital platforms and transcript systems 

• Maintaining a centralized record of approved credentials and their required metadata (issuing unit, learning outcomes, assessment criteria, renewal schedules, and descriptions)

The Council maintains the official list of approved micro-credentials and digital badges offered by SMU.

Review and Approval Process

Any SMU department, school, or unit seeking to offer a digital badge or micro-credential must submit a formal proposal to the Council. Proposals require:

• Clear rationale and evidence of demand and need 

• Demonstration of alignment with SMU’s mission and strategic goals 

• Defined measures of skill attainment and completion criteria 

• Description of oversight and quality assurance processes 

• Identification of financial, operational, and technological resources required 

• Approval from the relevant Chair/Director and Dean/Vice President before Council review 

This structured review ensures consistency, transparency, and quality across all micro-credential offerings at SMU.

Council Membership and Governance

The Council is composed of representatives from each school or college along with key university offices essential to credential integrity and implementation, including:

• Office of Institutional Effectiveness 

• Office of the Registrar 

• SMU Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE) 

• Office of Information Technology 

The Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness serves as Chair. The Council operates under formal bylaws, meets regularly each semester to review proposals, follows Robert’s Rules of Order, and maintains official minutes and records of actions.

Ensuring Quality and Integrity in Alternative Credentials

As micro-credentials and digital badges become an increasingly important way for learners to demonstrate skills and competencies, the MCOC ensures that these credentials at SMU are:

• Meaningful 

• Assessable 

• Aligned with institutional priorities 

• Properly documented and verifiable 

• Sustainably supported over time 

Through careful review, policy guidance, and cross-campus collaboration, the Council safeguards the value and credibility of SMU’s alternative credentials for students, employers, and the broader community.

Bylaws available here.

Micro-Credentials and Digital Badging Review Forms here.