Digital Badge Procedure
Digital badges are virtual learning records certified by the University of Montana that verify a learner’s successful completion of a single or set of academic or occupational achievements. Upon successful completion of an achievement, learners may receive a digital badge, authorized and awarded by the Office of Educational Initiatives and Innovation (EII). Learn about the University of Montana’s digital badge procedure.
Building Digital Badges That Matter
Meaningful digital badges should be intentionally designed to document the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities tied to career readiness, workforce development, or industry-specific outcomes. Badges can be issued for both credit-bearing and noncredit experiences and span multiple levels of achievement.
Badge levels are determined by the type and rigor of assessment involved: Engagement confirms participation without assessment, Knowledge and Proficiency require increasingly measurable demonstrations of learning, Mastery involves evaluation of observable expertise through applied or experiential assessments, and Pathway recognizes the completion of a connected, progressive series of badges.
Well-designed badges are built on a clear purpose and clearly articulate their connection to career or workforce outcomes and the competencies they represent, ensuring every badge serves as a credible, portable credential meaningful to both earners and employers.
Digital Badge Approval Process
- Faculty, staff, and UM partners may propose a new digital badge at any time by completing the Digital Badge Inquiry Form.
- Once a proposal is received, an EII associate will schedule an intake meeting to verify badge level and assessment alignment, gather metadata, coordinate any LMS (Canvas) integration if applicable, and establish timelines for launch and delivery.
- EII reviews all digital badges on a three-year cycle to ensure continued relevance to career readiness, workforce development, or industry-specific outcomes.
Questions about the digital badge procedure? Contact ExtendedLearningSupport@umontana.edu.