Maryville will soon empower students and alumni to own the academic credentials they have earned and issue them personally when the University debuts digital diplomas this fall. Maryville is one of the first universities in the country to adopt this cutting-edge blockchain technology.

Students will be able to manage their digital diplomas on a smartphone via an app. Through blockchain technology, the app provides a verifiable, tamper-proof version of their diploma that can be shared instantly with potential employers, other schools and anybody else the student designates. Employers or schools can verify the digital diploma immediately through a link that accesses the blockchain without need to contact Maryville’s student services team.

The project is spearheaded by Maryville’s chief digital transformation evangelist Feng Hou who previously served as chief information officer and chief learning officer at Central New Mexico Community College where he oversaw a similar blockchain initiative.

“We’re very excited to use blockchain technology to help our students better connect with the world around them,” Hou said. “Maryville is leading the way for other institutions of higher learning to adopt this emerging technology that is transforming how we serve students and prepare them for careers of the future.”

In addition to digital diplomas, Maryville plans to issue blockchain-secured digital transcripts to students. The service will allow students to independently share their records when moving between schools, applying for advanced degrees or starting new careers. Future use cases also include digital badging to include detailed descriptions of skills learned.

For more information, visit maryville.edu/digitaldiploma.