This issue, Dr. Staci Stone, the vice provost of Academic Affairs, Dominic DiMauro, the director of University Recreation, and Paul Killen, the associate director of Programs at Jacksonville State University, shares advice on Adventure Recreation as a catalyst for micro-credentials.
Can you briefly share on the new micro-credentialing program at Jacksonville State University (Jax State)?
SS: To help students engage more on campus and encourage them to value general education, Jax State’s redesigned program, called Jax MIX, embeds badged micro-credentials. Students complete a “focus” of three courses, attend three events aligned with that focus and submit a “work product,” which can range from a course assignment to an internship to leadership positions. The focus options include Community Engagement, Environmental Stewardship, Ethical Leadership, Global Connections and Media Literacy. For the events, we rely on event sponsors and units from across the university, and we appreciate partnering with University Recreation on several events. Over 5,000 students have started a focus through either a course or an event. Jax State is the first in the nation to embed badged micro-credentials entirely within general education.
What programs or events of University Recreation are part of this program?
DD & PK: So far, all adventure trips qualify as Jax MIX events under the Environmental Stewardship credential. Participants on these trips not only gain technical skills, like how to climb safely or read river conditions, but also learn and practice Leave No Trace principles to ensure their recreation has minimal impact on natural environments. Beyond trips, we’ve also contributed to the Community Engagement and Global Connections credentials through our “Diversity in Climbing Week,” hosted each of the past two semesters. This initiative brings together groups that are typically underrepresented in the adventure recreation community to promote inclusivity and cultivate a sense of community through shared experiences. We also hosted an International Students Night, in which participants received credit toward their Global Connections credential.
What results have you seen on participation because of this program?
PK: Before our partnership with Jax MIX, much of our trip participation came from students already engaged with our climbing wall, often the first point of contact for those interested in Adventure Recreation. Historically, our return rate from fall to spring trips hovered around 50%. However, during the 2024 academic year, that number climbed to approximately 70%. We believe this increase ties directly to the integration with Jax MIX.
How has it allowed you to enhance your marketing?
DD & PK: Our partnership with Jax MIX has significantly expanded the visibility of our programs. Trips are now listed in academic searches on the university’s event calendar, allowing students to discover them while browsing for opportunities tied to their Jax MIX micro-credential focus.
What should other professionals know when it comes to doing something similar on their campuses?
SS: The key to designing a successful program is transparency: involving all stakeholders multiple times throughout the process and making changes based on their feedback. Another essential approach to supporting successful implementation is training, ensuring that advisors, faculty, staff and event sponsors understand the program and can effectively assist students in participating. We’re excited that University Recreation has been such an important partner, and we hear those offering programming are benefiting from Jax MIX because attendance is higher as students gather for events to level up to a badge.
