The Career Services Microcredential Initiative enhances Colgate’s liberal arts education with valuable skills in demand by employers and graduate programs.
The program launched in the summer of 2023 and delivers multiple courses in four seasonal cycles. The cost for students who receive Colgate financial aid is fully subsidized; a Colgate discount has been negotiated for all other students.
In its inaugural year, Career Services has offered courses such as Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; Basic Excel; Harvard Business School Credential of Readiness; Urban Land Institute’s Foundations of Real Estate; and more. Students who receive Colgate financial aid may also apply to receive funding for a course they self-identify for the summer months that is not on Career Services’ original list.
Career Services selects courses that help students develop professional skills and industry knowledge, boosting their qualifications for internships and post-graduate experiences.
“Students often seek out ways to differentiate themselves among their peers. These microcredential courses allow students to demonstrate their initiative — to seek out professional development opportunities, but also to learn the content that sets them apart skill-wise,” notes Teresa Olsen, Milone Family AVP for Career Initiatives.
Offered asynchronously, this professional preparation is convenient and accessible to students. Administrators sought courses that included in-depth tutorials to effectively communicate new information and quizzes to ensure participants mastered a solid foundation of the skillset.
"I think the course was a good introduction to Adobe Illustrator. The small projects and practices you do are worthwhile — they really help you become confident in the basics," said Luz Hernandez ’26.
Many students approach the program with a clear vision of how they hope to augment their skills. Rachael Martinez ’26 explained that she took the basic Excel course to expand her general knowledge about the software program and prepare herself for a career in the legal field.
“I interned at a law firm last summer, and most of the records were kept in Excel spreadsheets. With the basic Excel course in my toolbelt, I can help manage and organize records more efficiently,” Martinez said.
The microcredential initiative aligns with the goals of Colgate’s Four-Year Career Development Plan as students refine their interests and future goals. Most importantly, the courses give students confidence in hard skills so they feel qualified when submitting an application or walking into an interview.
“The Excel course was a superb résumé builder as I apply for internships and law school,” said Martinez. “I can't thank Career Services enough for the real-world preparation and assistance.”
Supported through the generosity of the Robert A. Fox ’59 Management and Leadership Program, the Alan Greene ’51 Investment Studies Program, and the Walters Family