Students enrolled in an academic microcredential have access to specific University resources (such as library resources, Learning Management Systems, Microsoft 365 and Teams). If they are paying supplemental fees alongside tuition, they also have access to other University services.  Students have rights and responsibilities under Student-specific University policies and the ability to appeal under Student Appeal Procedures.   

Students taking nonacademic microcredentials do not have access to many of these university resources (including library resources, Learning Management Systems, Microsoft 365 and Teams) or other services for which students pay a supplemental fee alongside tuition. 

Nonacademic microcredentials do not appear on student transcripts. Academic microcredentials only appear on transcripts unless they are approved as part of a degree program.  

Learners enrolled in non-academic microcredentials may request a review of their evaluation to the Faculty Standing Committee on Microcredentials or to MCE within 4 weeks of submission of their final grade. Learners will not have access to existing Student appeal procedures behind the Faculty or MCE standing committee. The learner must be informed of the decision within 3 weeks from the date of the review request.  

A parchment is documentation provided to a Student or Learner attesting to the successful completion of a credential, whether electronic or paper-based.

Academic and non-academic microcredentials can issued by a Faculty, the INSPIRE Office or McMaster Continuing Education, depending on where the microcredential is housed.