The Native FEWS Certificate shapes a new ecosystem where credentials are more than just paper; they're connected to real careers, real people, and real purpose.
Imagine a verified network with credentials you can trust, with job opportunities you can act on, and connects learners, earners, and employers, all rolled into one. We're building exactly that.
This certificate empowers you to:
- Grow professionally while you study.
- Connect to internships, apprenticeships, and mentors.
- Confidently navigate your path from self-discovery to career success.
No matter your starting point, you belong here, and you can build your portfolio with the Native FEWS Certificate.
Key Information About the Native FEWS Certificate
The certificate is open to undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, educators, professionals, community members, lifelong learners, and leaders. Anyone ready to grow their expertise and make a meaningful impact in science and related fields is welcome.
No, you don’t. The certificate is available to anyone over the age of 18, regardless of educational background. The key will be to ensure individuals have the appropriate background knowledge to be successful in completing the certificate.
The Native FEWS Certificate equips participants with essential skills in Native and Indigenous governance, tribal liaising, and leadership skills designed and developed for the food, energy, and water systems sectors. The certificate fosters a deep understanding of culturally relevant practices and community-centered approaches vital for effective stewardship and innovation in these fields.
By using past, current, and future experiences that are personalized to their goals and interests.
Students can bring a variety of experiences to the certificate. These can include, but are not limited to, workshops, trainings, job responsibilities, volunteerism, community-based participation, internships, and more.
The Native FEWS Certificate honors place-based learning by formally recognizing the innovative knowledge, skills, and cultural insights gained through lived experiences in Native and Indigenous communities. The certificate recognizes experiential learning within each of the six micro-credentials, recording and acknowledging scholarship through the University of Colorado Denver in collaboration with a national alliance of institutions, partners, and organizations. Together they validate multiple forms of learning, including community-based, as central to leadership and innovation in food, energy, and water systems.
The certificate is available at a reduced cost of $75 per experience and can be completed at your own pace using experiences directly relevant to your career goals. For the 2025/2026 academic year, the certificate is offered at no cost.
A micro-credential is a focused certification that shows your mastery of a specific skill or topic. Both micro-credentials and the full certificate come with digital badges through Credly. These badges are secure, verifiable, and easy to share, positioning you to articulate and highlight your expertise with confidence and clarity to employers, colleagues, and academic programs.
Whether you complete one micro-credential or the full certificate, each credential is designed to align with your academic, professional, and community goals. The content is relevant, applicable, and adaptable across fields and sectors, demonstrating a sustained commitment to continuous learning and leadership development.
You can earn the full certificate by completing any three micro-credentials. Each micro-credential requires 45 contact hours which you can fulfill through coursework, workshops, projects, or other practical learning experiences. This flexible format allows you to customize your learning to fit your goals and schedule.
This varies from individual to individual. Some students have completed the certificate in 1-2 semesters and others are taking multiple semesters. You can move through the certificate at your own pace, noting that previous experiences can be used as contact hours toward completion of the Native FEWS Certificate.
Unfortunately, no since, at this time, the certificate is a non-credit educational training opportunity.
This is a non-credit program, meaning your progress is assessed on successful completion. The focus is on mastering expertise and application without relying on traditional grading systems. Upon completion, you receive a non-credit transcipt from CU Denver that documents your credentials. Employers value this as evidence of applied skills developed through each micro-credential, including critical thinking, project design, collaboration, and subject-area expertise, along with initiative and a commitment to continued growth. These are the capabilities that demonstrate you are prepared to make an immediate impact.
No, the certificate does not offer tuition support. However, in some cases, the certificate may be able to advocate for reducing tuition costs. This will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. You can combine Continuing Professional Education (CPE) micro-credentials with credit-bearing courses from degree programs. This approach integrates multiple learning pathways, establishing a resilient career foundation that is multifaceted, adaptable, and prepared to navigate complex real-world challenges with confidence and expertise.
