Higher Influence: How a free certificate program connected 135,000 people to one university

In the months following major civil unrest in cities across America in 2020, university and business leaders throughout the country found themselves reflecting. They considered how their actions could spark positive change and help generate reforms that would lead to a better society, while at the same time leveraging the impetus for higher education to embrace a new way of working.

A collaborative effort between three power players in the Tampa Bay, Florida region’s business community, including a large public research university, has helped tens of thousands of people around the world learn critical skills designed to enhance diversity in the workplace and create sustainable business practices that embrace equity and inclusion. The program breaks the mold of what might be traditionally expected from higher education institutions and could open the door to a new model of adapting quickly to deliver timely, relevant courses in the future.

Not long after the civil unrest in 2020, conversations about the importance of a program focused on diversity and inclusion in the workplace began between the University of South Florida’s (USF) Muma College of Business, and the leaders of Jabil, a Fortune 200 company headquartered in St. Petersburg, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the region’s National Hockey League franchise.

Their vision resulted in a free online certificate program that explored methods to grow a workforce that includes differing races, religions, ages, genders and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. Such a culture not only has broader societal implications, but it can also help companies and organizations develop novel business practices, increase revenue and improve performance.

Initially the organizers thought success would be a few thousand registrants, however that benchmark was surpassed just hours after announcing the program. Within weeks, more than 135,000 people from the U.S. and 14 other countries signed up for “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace.”

Weekly two-hour webinars began in early 2021. Each of the seven modules included a panel discussion, a keynote speaker and an instructional segment. Participants were required to pass a quiz at the end of each module and the nearly 63,000 who completed the program received a digital certificate as well as a Credly badge they can display on LinkedIn.

While well suited for C-suite executives and human resources professionals, the program was also designed for business managers and community and educational leaders. Attendees came from a broad range of organizations, including the military, non-profits, higher education and the business sector, including Boeing, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Nordstrom, JP Morgan Chase and the Walt Disney Co.

Program costs were modest and were mostly associated with building the necessary technology infrastructure to accommodate the number of registrants. Nearly all speakers volunteered their time, and no funds were expended on marketing the program, which was done primarily through the college’s monthly newsletter, news releases and social media promotion.

Click here to download a case study on the program which includes participant reactions and behaviors, their perceptions and overall awareness.

This content was paid for and created by University of South Florida. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.