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SUNY Potsdam School of Arts & Sciences Awarded $50,000 through SUNY Initiative to Embed Industry Credentials in Curricula

SUNY Potsdam Awarded Funds through SUNY Embedding Industry Credentials into Academic Coursework (EICAC) Initiative

Potsdam, NY (04/10/2026) — SUNY Potsdam has been awarded funding to support the integration of industry-recognized credentials into coursework within the arts, humanities and social sciences, as part of the SUNY Embedding Industry Credentials into Academic Coursework (EICAC) initiative.

The campus received an initial $25,000 through the program for the Spring 2026 semester, with an additional $25,000 to be awarded for Fall 2026 upon the successful completion of benchmarks.

Faculty in SUNY Potsdam's Departments of English, Political Science and Psychology will participate in the initiative, embedding entry-level certifications in existing coursework, to catalyze students' skill development and career readiness.

"This initiative reflects SUNY Potsdam's deep commitment to connecting the power of a liberal arts education with meaningful, career-relevant experiences," said School of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Dr. Shiho Imai. "This award recognizes the creativity and dedication of our faculty, who continue to design learning experiences that allow students to connect theory with practice in powerful ways, while preparing them for both professional success and lifelong learning."

The competitive award, administered by SUNY's Office of the Provost and supported through the Chancellor's Economic Development and Upward Mobility Fund, is part of a system-wide effort to enhance student career readiness by pairing academic learning with high-value, industry recognized credentials in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

SUNY Potsdam will participate as part of a statewide community of practice, working alongside peer institutions and national partners including the National Association of Systems of Higher Education (NASH), Google and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Through the Spring 2026 pilot, faculty in the three academic departments will embed entry-level, industry recognized certifications directly into credit bearing courses, enabling students to graduate with both a SUNY Potsdam degree and credentials aligned with employer needs.

Program highlights by discipline

  • Psychology will link conflict management/transformation skills into a credential for PSYC 395: Professional Development, applying skills for dealing with conflict (how we perceive, remember and use language) to reach our goals of communicating effectively with others in personal and workspace environments.
  • Political Science will embed public service competencies that count towards the Certified Town Official (CTO) credential -- offered through the New York Association of Towns -- into POLS 363: Conflict Communication Skills. This course is also part of the Local Government: Managing Conflict Through Communication microcredential.
  • English will embed the University of Houston Coursera certificate, Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling, into LITR 303: World Writers: Fairy Tales in Fall 2026 and, eventually, LITR 309: Instructional Design: Fairy Tales -- strengthening the department's offerings and building on its applied writing and digital humanities work. The Digital Storytelling certificate prepares students for careers in professional writing, instructional design, and digital media by emphasizing digital storytelling as a tool for learning, communication, and audience engagement.

Together, these efforts will support SUNY Potsdam students in developing career-ready portfolios, gaining exposure to professional standards, and earning credentials that complement their liberal arts education.

Grant funding will support faculty professional development, adjunct coverage to allow for course redesign and direct student access to credentialing opportunities during the pilot phase. Following the Spring 2026 planning and integration period, the programs will move into pilot implementation in the 2026-27 academic year, with student participation highlighted through campus showcases, internship networking opportunities and assessment activities.

The initiative aligns with SUNY Potsdam's broader commitment to applied learning, experiential education and workforce engagement -- ensuring graduates are prepared to translate disciplinary knowledge into meaningful professional pathways.

The School of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Potsdam exposes students to a variety of fields within the fine arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences. The School's strong foundation in the liberal arts prizes creativity and inquiry, offering a full palette of study across the departments offering majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs that encourage hands-on learning opportunities for every student. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/aas.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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Media Attachments

A professor speaks to students sitting around a large table during a seminar class.

SUNY Potsdam Professor Dr. Robert Hinckley leads a lecture in one of his political science classes in Satterlee Hall. He and his colleagues have helped to develop a partnership with the New York Association of Towns to incorporate public service competencies into coursework, efforts that will be further enhanced thanks to support from the SUNY Embedding Industry Credentials into Academic Coursework (EICAC) initiative.

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