USI Board of Trustees approves five new certificates and microcredentials
At its regular meeting on Thursday, November 5, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved five new graduate and undergraduate certificates and microcredentials designed to expand flexible learning opportunities and address workforce needs including artificial intelligence, data analytics, early childhood leadership, editing and publishing, and automation.
The new offerings are proposed for implementation in Fall 2027:
Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence: The nine-credit-hour, fully online certificate, offered through the Romain College of Business, equips business leaders to harness the transformative potential of AI in strategy, decision-making, and organizational innovation. Through coursework in AI-driven business transformation, applied generative AI, and business analytics, students will develop the expertise to leverage advanced technologies for growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage. Graduates of the concentration will be prepared to integrate AI into core business functions—optimizing marketing, streamlining operations, driving product innovation and enhancing customer experiences—while navigating the ethical and strategic challenges of responsible AI deployment.
Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics: The nine-credit-hour, fully online certificate, offered through the Romain College of Business, prepares professionals to transform business data into insights that support organizational decision-making. Through coursework in applied business analytics, data-driven decision-making, and information visualization and dashboarding, students gain applied experience with tools at the leading edge of business practice that strengthen their ability to examine business questions, communicate findings to diverse audiences, and recommend informed actions. The certificate complements existing professional expertise and supports expanded responsibilities in analytical and managerial work.
Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership: The nine-credit-hour, fully online certificate, offered through the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, is designed to meet a critical need for leadership preparation among current and aspiring early childhood professionals by equipping them with practical skills in program administration, staff development, operations, and family engagement to support high-quality early learning environments across diverse settings. The certificate combines coursework in early childhood program leadership, program administration and quality improvement. Embedded AIM4Excellence modules lead to the AIM4Excellence National Director Credential, preparing graduates to lead and sustain high-quality early childhood programs.
Graduate Microcredential in Editing and Publishing: The six-credit-hour, online microcredential, offered through the College of Liberal Arts, provides students with practical, career-focused training in editing, book production, publishing, marketing and literary arts event management through hands-on practice with the University of Southern Indiana’s Southern Indiana Review and SIR Press.
Microcredential in Automation: The eight-credit-hour undergraduate microcredential, offered through the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, prepares students with the hands-on experience and knowledge needed in industrial automation. Students will learn robust programming techniques for personal computers, single-board computers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Various types of sensors and actuators are introduced and used in the labs along with industrial networking and the Industrial Internet of Things. The microcredential will support employers’ efforts to modernize operations, improve productivity and address technical skills gaps.
These certificates and microcredentials are designed to provide shorter, focused pathways for students and working professionals to develop specialized skills while building on existing USI academic programs, courses and faculty expertise. Several also offer pathways into related graduate degree programs.
All certificates and microcredentials will be reviewed next by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
In other business, the Trustees approved the conferral of degrees to candidates for 2026 Fall Commencement Exercises and heard reports on various departments as well as campus construction projects.