Policy on Denial or Revocation of NEA Micro-credentials

The National Education Association (NEA) reserves the right to deny the earning of a microcredential or to revoke a micro-credential for certain forms of misconduct. This policy sets forth the type of misconduct that can result in denial of earning a micro-credential or revocation of awarded micro-credential. The purpose of this policy is to maintain the integrity of NEA’s Micro-credential program. This policy applies to all users participating in the NEA micro-credentials program.

1. Misconduct Warranting Denial or Revocation of Micro-credential
   A NEA micro-credential may be denied or revoked for any user who, in the sole judgment of NEA:
   1. Has knowingly misrepresented or falsified materials in connection with a microcredential account, submission, artifact, or other information submitted to NEA’s Certification Bank micro-credential online portal; or
   2. Has knowingly engaged in inappropriate conduct in connection with the microcredential process, including, but not limited to:
      1. Submitting someone else’s original work, or Artificial Intelligence generated work, to earn a micro-credential; or
      2. Providing an earned micro-credential submission to another potential earner to submit as their own work; or
      3. Any other form of misconduct or dishonesty that might compromise the integrity of the micro-credential process.

Any denial or revocation of a micro-credential under this policy shall be subject to the following procedures.

2. Initial Investigation
   1. The NEA Micro-credential Oversight (“MO”) Committee will be made aware of the possible misconduct and will promptly and thoroughly investigate. The MO Committee will decide, by a majority vote, whether the micro-credential should be denied or revoked based on the criteria in the preceding section.
   2. The MO Committee will notify, by email, the user who is being investigated for possible misconduct. The notice will provide a general description of the conduct that is the subject of the investigation and will ask the user to provide a written response. The user will be given fifteen calendar days to provide their response.
   3. The MO Committee may request additional information from a user being investigated for possible misconduct. Users shall cooperate in good faith and on a timely basis with any such request.
   4. If the MO Committee concludes that the user has engaged in misconduct, it may impose appropriate sanctions on the user, including, but not limited to:
      1. Reject micro-credential submission with the option to resubmit micro-credential representing their own work.
      2. Reject micro-credential submission without the option to resubmit the microcredential.
      3. Reject the micro-credential submission and ban the user from taking microcredentials in the future.
      4. Revocation of the micro-credential previously earned by the user. 5. Report the user’s misconduct to the NEA Review Board, local, state affiliate and/or the user’s school system.
   5. The MO Committee will provide a written decision to the user that includes a general description of the MO’s findings and the information that the MO Committee relied upon in making those findings. The decision will also state what sanctions, if any, the MO Committee has imposed considering its findings.
   6. In any investigation involving non-members, they will not receive a refund of their $75 micro-credential fee.
   7. If the user does not request further review of a MO decision pursuant to the appeal process provided below, the findings and the decision of the MO Committee will constitute the final decision of NEA’s Micro-credential Investigation.

3. Appellate Review
   
   1. A user may appeal a decision by the MO Committee by submitting a written request for further review. The appeal should be submitted to micro-credentials@nea.org and clearly marked “ATTENTION: MICRO-CREDENTIAL APPEALS.”
   2. All appeals must be submitted within twenty (20) calendar days of the user’s receipt of the MO Committee’s written decision. If an appeal is not timely, it will not be considered, and the decision of the MO Committee will be final.
   3. To have a decision by the MO Committee overturned, the user must provide substantial evidence that the MO Committee made a clear error in its fact findings. Users should be as specific as possible in describing any such alleged error and should provide whatever supporting documentation they would like to submit.
   4. The Appeal Review Process (“ARP”) will include a review of all written documentation. The Appeal Process may include a request for additional information from the user appealing the decision by the MO Committee. Users shall cooperate in good faith and on a timely basis with any such request.
   5. In almost all instances, the appeal will be decided on the basis of the written record. However, an oral hearing may be scheduled if the Appeal Reviewers believe that a hearing is warranted, to be held online via teleconferencing tools.
   6. Absent unusual circumstances, the Appeal Process will conclude within ninety (90) calendar days after it receives the user’s appeal letter. Requests for additional information might result in a longer decision period.
   7. After reviewing the user’s appeal letter, supporting documentation, and any other information deemed relevant to the appeal, and conducting any hearing believed to be warranted, the user will be provided written notice of the Appeal Process decision. If the Appeal Process decision overturns the decision of the MO Committee in any respect, the written notice shall so state and shall inform the candidate of the ARP’s findings and the relief that will be provided.
   8. If the Appeal Review Process overturns the MO Committee in any respect, it may provide the following relief: 
      1. Withdrawal of the denial or revocation of the earned micro-credential; or
      2. Removal of any limitations on the individual’s right to retake any microcredentials; or
      3. Other relief such as the Appeal Reviewers deems to be warranted.
   9. If the Appeal Review Process affirms the decision of the MO Committee, the written notice shall so state and shall briefly describe the information considered by the Appeal Reviewers and the reasons for its findings.
   10. The decision of the Appeal Reviewers shall constitute the final decision of NEA’s Microcredential Program and shall not be subject to any further internal appeal or judicial challenge by the user. 

4. Review Fee
   1. The NEA Micro-credential Program shall establish a filing fee for non-members that must be paid by users who appeal a decision by the MO Committee. The amount of the filing fee will be made available to users at the time of the initial MO Committee decision. NEA may revise the amount of that fee at any time.
   2. If the Appeal Reviewers conclude that the user has substantially prevailed in appealing a decision by the MO Committee, the filing fee paid by the non-member user will be reimbursed.