As SUNY works to demonstrate and strengthen the value of a college degree, integrating industry-recognized credentials into academic coursework represents an important strategy.
A 2022 survey conducted by Coursera found that 86% of U.S. students agree that earning an entry-level professional certificate could help them stand out to employers. American employers were also in agreement – with 86% believing industry certifications strengthen a prospective employee’s application.
The first Embedding Industry Credentials cohort was established in 2024-2025 in partnership with the National Association of Systems of Higher Education (NASH) and Google. Eleven campuses joined a Community of Practice moderated by the University of Texas–Arlington and supported in part by the Strada Education Foundation. In this pilot, faculty members integrated content from a wide range of Google certificate programs – such as UX Design, Project Management, Data Analysis, and Cybersecurity – into graduate and undergraduate courses and programs including Business Management, Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Marketing, Computer Technology, and IT Support. Pilot offerings began in summer of 2025 with a more comprehensive rollout in the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 terms.
In the 2025-26 academic year, SUNY funded a second cohort of twelve campuses to embed industry credentials into multi-disciplinary coursework – with specific emphasis on students in arts, humanities, and social sciences majors.
Applications Due: October 9, 2026
Thanks to support from the nonprofit Strada Group, and the allocation of SUNY economic mobility funds, SUNY provided one-time funding of up to $50,000 to selected campuses each to participate in this pilot program to embed an industry recognized career credential into a course or program of study. The campuses were also able to participate in a NASH/Google Community of Practice.
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Adirondack has evaluated certificates in AI Essentials, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics (in progress), Project Management (in progress), and IT Support (in progress). The campus is redesigning courses including ECO 101, CIS 135, CIS 233, HOS 193, BUS 102, and BUS 165.
Albany has evaluated certificates in Data Analytics, Project Management, Cybersecurity, and AI Essentials. Course redesign efforts include Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Cybersecurity, and IST courses.
Alfred the certificates under evaluation include Data Analytics, Project Management, UX Design, Cybersecurity, and AI Essentials. Course redesign includes Business Project Management, an interdisciplinary Data Analytics course, and Global Studies.
Binghamton has evaluated certificates in Cybersecurity and Project Management. Course redesign focuses on CS 458/558, CS 4xx/5xx, CS 402, CS 580B, and INFO 505. These courses are currently being aligned and redesigned for a pilot launch in Fall 2025.
Brockport is evaluating a wide range of certificates, including AI Essentials, Advanced Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design. An intracurricular certification structure is also in development as a co-curricular support strategy.
Farmingdale has reviewed certificates in Cyber Security, Data Analytics, IT Support, and AI Essentials. Courses being redesigned include UNIX, Business Data Management, Digital Systems, Computer Forensics, and AI Management. Departmental review and certificate-to-course crosswalks are currently underway, with implementation expected in Fall 2025.
Finger Lakes Community College has evaluated several Google certificates—including AI Essentials, Prompting Essentials, UX Design, Cybersecurity, IT Support, and Digital Marketing & E-Commerce—for integration into its programs. Co-curricular efforts feature plans to potentially embed it into a new, cost-free First Year Experience course.
Old Westbury has evaluated certificates in AI Essentials, Digital Marketing, Analytics, and UX Design. Course redesigns are focused on the Digital Marketing Seminar, UX, Business Analytics, and AI Essentials. Curriculum preparations are underway for a Fall launch. Pilots will run in Spring and Fall 2025, with a micro-credential proposal in the works for Spring 2026.
Oneonta has evaluated certificates in AI Essentials, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, and Project Management. Course redesigns include incorporating AI Essentials into an AI course, a Cybersecurity elective, a Data Analytics certificate, and a Project Management sequence.
Oswego has reviewed certificates in AI Essentials, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, and Project Management. Course redesign includes MBA 568, MKT380, and modules for Data Analytics. A pilot is planned for Summer and Fall 2025.
SUNY Poly is pursuing developing custom non-credit Coursera courses that integrate Google certificate content for participants across our partner network with the goal of enabling one-by-one enrollment for individuals without SUNY Poly credentials through personalized invitation links.
Cohort 2 of the Embedding Industry Credentials into Academic Coursework initiative has made substantial progress toward its goals. Faculty across twelve campuses have identified industry credentials aligned with course and program learning outcomes, completed curriculum mapping and redesign, and begun offering courses in Fall 2026. The predominant approach has been to embed workforce-relevant skills and credential content within existing courses rather than create standalone offerings, strengthening career readiness while maintaining academic coherence. Collectively, the initiative represents a broad, multidisciplinary effort to connect academic learning with AI and emerging technologies, digital and workforce skills, experiential learning, and industry-recognized credentials.
At SUNY Albany, five faculty are participating, with AI and Qualtrics incorporated into first-year experience, experiential education, business, economics, and social research courses.
Columbia-Greene, with three faculty participants, is developing and reviewing courses in AI, digital marketing, e-commerce, and UX design, alongside several Google credentials.
Corning has four faculty participating in the review of courses across psychology, English, communications, and theatre, as well as credentials in AI, community news, and technical theatre safety.
Cortland, with three faculty participants, is exploring digital writing, storytelling, surveillance and technology, and teaching-writing courses, together with Google credentials in AI, UX design, and generative AI for educators.
Farmingdale has four faculty participating, with work spanning operations management, interaction design, electronic media, and AI Management, and credentials in project management, UX design, digital marketing, AI, and prompting.
Geneseo has six faculty participants, the largest group among the campuses, with courses spanning political science, marketing, economics, English, and event management and a broad portfolio of AI, data analytics, project management, social media, Python, and communication credentials.
Jamestown, with five faculty participants, is incorporating credentialing into graphic design, game writing, composition, psychology, Spanish, and other courses, with credentials including Adobe, Google AI, game design, and the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
At New Paltz, three faculty are participating in work involving advanced recording, CAD, computational design, and 3D printing, with credentials ranging from Pro Tools and OSHA to Rhino, Grasshopper, and Stratasys certifications.
Oneonta, with five faculty participants, is focusing on music industry, career fields, event planning, and Pro Tools, while reviewing credentials in project management, AI, job-search skills, and music licensing.
SUNY Poly, with four faculty participants, is integrating industry credentials and digital skills into 3D asset development, psychology, communications and media design, digital ethnography, and capstone work, including certifications in Maya, data analytics, AI, and project management.
Potsdam, also with four faculty participants, is exploring courses in literature, psychology, and political science, alongside credentials in AI, UX design, behavioral analysis, town administration, digital storytelling, instructional design, and conflict transformation.
At Purchase, six faculty innovators are engaged in this work, three from Purchase’s School of Art + Design and three from the School of Humanities. Their focus is embedded Adobe’s Professional Certificate into courses in Photography, Digital Media, and Communications courses.
IWe invite proposals from SUNY campuses to join the third cohort of SUNY’s Embedded Industry-Recognized Credentials Community of Practice (CoP), which supports the integration of industry-recognized credentials into academic coursework. Building on the first two cohorts, which engaged 19 SUNY campuses, the third cohort will add 10 campuses, with priority given to proposals that integrate credentials into SUNY General Education courses, arts, humanities, and social sciences courses and programs, and high-enrollment undergraduate courses that reach broad student populations. The initiative seeks to enhance the value of a SUNY degree by expanding students’ access to workforce-relevant skills and employer-recognized credentials, with an emphasis on credentials demonstrating clear workforce value. Participating campuses will receive faculty training, peer learning, and implementation support; strengthen institutional capacity to evaluate and award academic credit for completed credentials and related learning; develop pathways that connect credentials and academic credit to internships, employment, and career advancement; and assess student participation, credential completion, academic success, and workforce readiness. Participation is open to all SUNY campuses, although preference will be given to campuses that did not participate in Cohorts 1 or 2; previous participants are encouraged to serve as mentors and share lessons and promising practices.
Proposal Due Date: October 9, 2026
Embedding Industry Credentials into Academic Coursework Project Attestation Template 2026
Embedding Industry Credentials into Academic Coursework Budget Template 2026
Information Session
September 25, 2026 10-11am, Information Session Zoom Link
For more information, contact Ellen.Gambino@suny.edu.
For more information about this program, contact Ellen.Gambino@suny.edu.