---
title: A ‘Badge’ of Honor
date: 2021-10-15T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-badge-of-honor"
section: Articles
---
# A ‘Badge’ of Honor

*October 15, 2021* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> SPH Professional Preparation Program Launches Digital Certificate as First in UMD Series

*Badging main art shutterstock — The digital badge, such as the new one offered in the School of Public Health, is a credential that student can feature on their resume or LinkedIn profile to highlight specific accomplishment to employers.*

For any college student, the transition from an undergraduate routine to the working world can be rocky. Early-morning meetings, networking breakfasts, the nuances of CCing and BCCing can all seem daunting to a young person mostly familiar with coffee-fueled all-nighters and class-free Fridays.

A program in the School of Public Health aims to ease the move by teaching students the skills they’ll need after graduation. After completing a semester of workshops, members of the Students Transitioning into Effective Professionals (STEP) program will earn a digital badge, a credential they can put on their resume or LinkedIn profile to highlight their accomplishment to employers.

Launched as a pilot program in Fall 2019, STEP has exited its initial phase and is launching a digital badge. The program has primarily served students from underrepresented populations, first-generation college students, first-year or transfer students and students with a GPA from 2.0 to 2.9. “Those are the students we identified as those who could benefit from having additional support,” said Tia Cunningham, STEP’s founding program manager.

The official introduction of the digital badge this semester is “a symbol to recognize what (the students) have learned and been able to accomplish,” said Cunningham.


*School of Public Health STEP Program Career Readiness badge*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)



**Units:** [Office of Undergraduate Studies](https://today.umd.edu/topic/office-undergraduate-studies), [School of Public Health](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-public-health)