The First Digital Diplomas Issued and the Registrars ( and Learners) Who Love Them

The First Digital Diplomas Issued and the Registrars ( and Learners) Who Love Them

In February, we announced Parchment Award, part of our expanded credential management platform. With Parchment Award, you can securely issue digital credentials to your recipients, who then claim and share them with verified links to employers and on social media. Read all about it in our press release.

Here’s where it gets really exciting. Recently, several Parchment Award charter members spoke about their inaugural issuing of digital certificates: Clark Atlanta University, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and University of Nebraska Omaha. We think you’ll find their enthusiasm for going digital inspiring. Could your school be next?

Clark Atlanta University is fighting credential fraud with digital diplomas says Registrar Susan Gibson. The school plans to roll out the service for graduates starting with class of 2017, providing proof of graduation within hours.

Clark Atlanta is the first HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) in the country to issue digital certificates. The electronic credentials support the university’s charter to “lift every voice,” making it easier for graduates to compete for jobs. Learn more.

Along with the traditional paper degree, graduating students from Texas A&M Corpus Christi will receive an online version, providing portability and the instant gratification of getting diplomas right away. The first in Texas to issue digital diplomas to their winter 2016 class, TMUCC notified learners via SMS text notifications that increased claim rates by 40%! And more than 50% of their graduates are sharing those credentials on social media.

According to Michael Rendon, a university registrar, A & M Corpus Christi graduates now have an advantage in a competitive job market. “The difference between this and a paper one is that it’s shareable with employers and on Twitter, Facebook or other social media,” he explains. “They’ll have it for the rest of their lives.” Learn more.

Also quick to jump on the bandwagon, University of Nebraska at Omaha is the first to include undergraduate and graduate diplomas and certificates for its winter 2016 class. The school promoted the digital diplomas with two email notifications and on its web page. To date, almost 1,000 graduates have digital diplomas to use with employees.

Learners are pretty thrilled with the digital credentials as well. One 2016 graduate, who earned a degree in computer science from the university, believes that showing a digital diploma gives you an edge. “It’s a no-brainer to attach with my resume,” says Michael L.

There’s always more to learn.