Microcredentialing Glossary

• Accredible – The software platform that manages the creation, distribution, and sharing of digital badges and the affiliated documentation of learning achievements at Rutgers University.
• Approver – The person who administers the digital badging and digital credential programs across a Chancellor-led unit (CLU), or a University-wide division or department.  This individual will review submitted materials for their alignment with the guidelines for microcredentials in their respective CLU or division/department, and respond to the submitter with feedback on their potential new program.
• Artifacts – The documentation of learning that was undertaken in earning a particular digital credential.  This can include submitted papers, reports, videos, completed assessments, and other examples of accomplishments by the learner during the microcredential process.
• Coordinator – The person who assists submitters of new digital credentials for inclusion in a CLU’s or University-wide department’s/division’s digital credential offerings.  They enter new credentials into the Accredible software platform and make them eligible for earning.
• Digital Badge – shareable electronic documentation of competency-based learning or validated participation in and assessment of a learning opportunity. 
• Digital Certificate – Shareable electronic documentation of competency-based learning in a certificate program.
• Digital Credential – Shareable electronic documentation of competency-based learning in either a digital badging or digital certificate program.
• Earned Badge – A digital badge for which a learner has completed all the necessary learning requirements and assessments, and has been given access to accept and share the badge.
• Earned Certificate – A digital certificate for which a learner has completed all the necessary learning requirements and assessments, and has been given access to accept and share the digital certificate.
• Functional Area Approver Account – For the digital credential process and its associated software platform, there are seven accounts to organize the digital credential functions and offerings within that area – one for each of the four Chancellor-led Units (Rutgers–New Brunswick, Rutgers–Newark, Rutgers–Camden, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences), the Division of Continuing Studies, the University Libraries, and one for programs that reside in a universitywide administrative office.  The universitywide account is coordinated by a committee of members of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.
• Metadata – The digitized information stored within each digital credential that includes: the URL to view the information; the name of the digital credential; the name of the earner; the name of the issuer; the date the digital credential was issued; the level of mastery; the learning outcomes; the completed assessment; validity dates of the credential; and the artifacts of the learning process.  This data will always be linked to the digital credential and available for viewing.  Rutgers will always maintain this metadata into the future, despite any changes in the software platform.
• Microcredential – a short, competency-based recognition that enables an educator to document a learner's mastery in a particular area.
• Offered Badge – A digital badge that has been fully approved and is available for learners to earn.
• Offered Certificate – A digital certificate that has been fully approved and is available for learners to earn.