Helpful Definitions

Alternative Credentials

• • Non-traditional (non-degree) credentials offered by institutions of higher education may include a myriad of credit alternatives including MOOCs, micro-credentialing (badges), credit or non-credit bearing certificate programs and various other opportunities.

Certificates

• • Certificates are academic programs (undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels) based on a free-standing body of knowledge, often interdisciplinary in nature. They typically have a minimum number of credits, and are smaller than major programs. Completed certificates are recorded in student records and displayed on transcripts.

Comprehensive Learner Record

• • Official document that seeks to capture, record, and communicate learning when and where it happens in a student’s higher education experience. This includes learning outcomes from courses, program and degrees, as well as experience they have outside the classroom that help develop their career ready skills and abilities.

For-credit

• • Courses or other learning experiences resulting in a learner earning academic credit which displays on an academic transcript upon completion

HSC Student:

• • Individual who has applied for admission or readmission to HSC, who is registered or enrolled in one or more courses for-credit, or who currently is not enrolled but has a continuing academic relationship with HSC.

Not-for-credit

• • Courses or other learning experiences that do not result in a learning earning academic credit, and which do not typically appear on an academic transcript, but which may be recognized through other means (i.e. residency programs).

Micro-credential

• • A competency or skills based recognition that allows a learner to demonstrate mastery and learning in a particular area