From Badges to Pathways: Iowa State’s Microcredentialing Playbook

​​Iowa State University has launched one of the most ambitious campus-wide microcredentialing programs in higher ed — issuing 600+ digital badges across 80+ microcredentials in its first year alone. But the real story isn’t just about scale. It’s about how Iowa State is helping learners gain confidence, articulate real-world skills, and connect their education to career goals through stackable learning pathways.

In this 30-minute spotlight webinar, ISU’s Tanya Austin joins Accredible’s Ryan Greives to share how the university designed a learner-first credentialing framework that spans academic, co-curricular, and professional learning, and how they’re using digital credentials and Pathways to motivate learners, streamline recognition, and align with employer expectations.

You’ll learn how ISU:

• Structures credentials using a tiered badge and capstone model
• Builds non-linear pathways that support learner choice and stackable progression
• Gained buy-in from faculty, staff, and leadership across colleges
• Maintains governance, branding, and quality at scale

Whether you’re piloting badges or scaling system-wide, this session offers a model for connecting credentials to learner agency, institutional value, and workforce relevance.