Background

The demand for continuing education, alternative specializations, certification, and other forms of professional enhancement and recognition has increased over the past few years, as has the need to formally recognize the successful completion of such activities through the awarding of certificates. However, these activities are many and varied, and there have been no specific institutional requirements for the development and presentation of certificates.

Definition

The purpose of a certificate program is to extend and expand the participant’s level of competence in a particular area of study. As used here, a “certificate” is a device for formally recognizing that an individual has completed a specific course of study which in and of itself does not result in the awarding of a degree.

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the University that the criteria and guidelines presented below shall be followed in the awarding of institutional certificates. There will be two general categories of certificates (referred to here as Category A and Category B) which are differentiated according to criteria, steps for approval, and institutional recognition. For a certificate to be classified in Category A, it must meet all Category A criteria.

I. Criteria for Determining the Appropriate Certificate Category

  Category
A		 Category B
  1. Admission to an undergraduate, graduate, or professional program of the University is required.

Yes

No
  1. Participants’ work is subject to normal academic performance expectations and evaluation procedures.

Yes

No
  1. Completion, in general, of 15 to 24 credit hours (or the equivalent) in a curriculum or program normally offered for undergraduate or graduate academic credit is required. (With approval from the appropriate academic vice president, graduate and advanced professional programs which do not award credit hours will not be required to meet this criterion.)

Yes

No
  1. The defined curriculum or program is a sub—component of an existing degree or program authority OR is a new academic effort for credit.

Yes

No

II. Steps for Obtaining Institutional Approval

Category A
  1. Development of a written proposal/description including a statement of need.
  2. Review and approval by Center Director and School Dean(s).
  3. Review and approval by appropriate Senior Academic Vice President.
  4. Review and approval by President.
  5. Review and approval by Board of Trustees.
  6. Submission to Alabama Commission on Higher Education as an information item.
 
Category B
  1. Development of a written proposal/description including a statement of need.
  2. Review and approval by Center Director and School Dean(s).
  3. Review and approval by appropriate Senior Academic Vice President.
  4. Forwarded to the President as an information item.
 

III. Levels of Institutional Recognition

 

Category A

Category B
  1. Signed by appropriate Center Director and/or School Dean.
  1. Signed by appropriate Center Director and/or School Dean.
  1. Signed by President and bears University seal.
  1. Not signed by President; does not bear University seal.
  1. Identified on UAB transcript.
  1. Not identified on UAB transcript.
  1. Noted in commencement bulletin.
  1. Not listed in commencement bulletin.