State Business Council recognizes SUNY's microcredential programs

QUEENSBURY, New York (May 2, 2022) — SUNY Adirondack is proud to announce that the Business Council of New York State honored the State University of New York (SUNY) system with a New York State Workforce Innovation Award for the college system’s offerings of microcredential programs. 

The Business Council announced Thursday four award winners of the inaugural awards, which recognize outstanding business leaders, and workforce development training and education providers, focused on developing a strong and diverse talent pipeline.   

Award winners include: 

• P-12 Workforce Innovation Award: Baldwin Union Free School District (Hempstead) 
• Higher Education Workforce Innovation Award: State University of New York (SUNY) System (Albany) 
• Non-Profit Workforce Innovation Award: The Guidance Center of Westchester (Mount Vernon) 
• Business Workforce Leadership Award: GlobalFoundries (Malta)   

The winners will be honored at a May 20 luncheon at the University at Albany’s ETEC Building. The awards are custom designed by the Welding and Metal Fabrication program at Capital Region BOCES. The event is sponsored this year by National Grid, BBL Companies and The Building Contractors Association. 

SUNY Adirondack offers 10 microcredentials — series of courses that lead to certification of a skill set — including Adobe Illustrator Basics, Adobe InDesign Basics, Adobe Photoshop Basics, Intermediate Spanish for Global Communications, NYS Coaching Certification, Rock Climbing Certification, Ski Instruction Level I Certification, Ski Instruction Level I Enhanced Certification, Snowboarding Instruction Level I Certification and Snowboarding Instruction Level I Enhanced Certification. 

Microcredentials give participants the opportunity to advance their career or add value to a degree program with just three or four classes. 

“Education is a lifelong journey and there is no time limit on when you can be a student,” said Deborah F. Stanley, interim SUNY chancellor. “People move in and out of the workforce, returning to the classroom each time they are ready to climb higher in, or change, careers. We are proud to receive the Higher Education Workforce Innovation Award because it reinforces that SUNY is tailoring our education model to every worker with a dream.” 

To learn more about microcredentials at SUNY Adirondack, please visit www.sunyacc.edu/academics/microcredentials.