Signature Program

Collegiate badging recognizes students who are improving their knowledge and expertise. UNA Sanders College of Business and Technology students can demonstrate to their industry peers, campus colleagues, and professional network the accomplishments and skills earned outside traditional degrees and certifications by earning these digital badges.

Digital badging is a new tool used by many higher education institutions. Badges not only indicate a student's accomplishments, skills, knowledge, or competency as it relates to their collegiate career but offers students the opportunity to display them both on LinkedIn profiles and other professional platforms. 

Students wishing to pursue a badge must contact the Sanders COBT Experiential Learning Coordinator (rhill6@una.edu) to declare their intent to pursue the badge and establish a plan of action to be fulfilled prior to graduation.

  • Leadership Badge:

    Complete the following steps to earn (Can be completed over the entire time of study at UNA)

  • Hold an officer position in a Registered Student Organization. (all Sanders COBT Ambassadors and LaGrange Society members qualify without holding specific officer positions).

  • Must attend at least one leadership speaker event and submit a reflection paper to the Experiential Learning Coordinator.  Substitutions may be available for speaker events students attend outside of UNA. Please contact Ms. Rachel Patterson for leadership speaker events available on-campus and questions regarding substitutions.

  • Must read a prescribed leadership book and write a reflection paper to be submitted to the Experiential Learning Coordinator.

  • Leadership book options:

    • Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lesson I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts by Robert Rosenberg
    • Dare to Lead by Dr. Brene Brown
    • Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink
    • Give and Take by Adam Grant
    • How to be a Star at Work: 9 Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed by Robert E. Kelley
    • It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership by Colin Powell
    • Wins, Losses, and Lessons: An Autobiography by Lou Holtz

 

  • Innovation Badge:

    Participate in at least one activity in 3 of the 4 categories listed below (Can be completed over the entire time of study at UNA)

  • Pitch Competitions: Shoals Idea Audition, Project Founder, Lift Off Shoals, or Global CEO Elevator Pitch

  • Innovation Immersion Experiences: Innovation study trips in the United States, Innovation-focused study abroad trip, CEO Global Conference, or Smart Start. 

  • CEO chapter participation, CEO chapter Executive Board position, CEO chapter activities participation, and attend 50% of chapter activities. 

  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship Courses: Select Innovation & Entrepreneurship as a minor, or enroll in an Innovation Engineering course. 

  • Experiential Learning Badge:

    Complete at least 3 of the following activities (can be completed over the entire time of study in COBT)

  • Participate in at least one internship or study abroad program. A part-time job related to the student's major can substitute for an internship if equivalent in hours worked.

  • Compete in at least one business-related competition. (Sales Center Speed Sell, Phi Beta Lambda, TVA Investment Challenge, etc.)

  • Present at least one research paper/poster at a conference or UNA research event.

  • Complete an Institute Fellowship through the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development. Please contact Dr. Doug Barrett for Institute Fellowship information.