JACKSONVILLE, AL. — Jacksonville State University has received national recognition for its Jax MIX general education program, earning the 2026 Exemplary General Education Program Award from the Association for General and Liberal Studies.
Jax State was one of two institutions nationwide selected for the award this year. The recognition highlights Jax MIX and the university’s approach to incorporating microcredentials into its general education curriculum.
According to the university, Jax State is the first university in the nation to fully embed microcredentials as pathways within its general education program.
The Association for General and Liberal Studies presents the award to higher education institutions that have significantly revised or improved their general education curricula and can demonstrate evidence of the programs’ effectiveness.
Jax MIX launched in fall 2024 following a multi-year effort to redesign general education at Jacksonville State. Vice Provost Dr. Staci Stone and Jax MIX Director Dr. Benjamin Gross traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to accept the award on behalf of the university.
“We appreciate this recognition of our Jax MIX program because it highlights the quality and innovation Jax State provides to students,” Stone said. “Our Jax MIX microcredentials help students understand the value of general education courses while signifying to employers the motivation and specialized skills of students with these credentials.”
Development of Jax MIX and the Jax MIX Microcredentials program involved faculty, staff and students from across the university. The process included focus groups, surveys, campus discussions and town halls, along with feedback from employers about skills they value in graduates.
That feedback contributed to three core competencies within Jax MIX: communication, critical thinking and collaboration.
Jax MIX Microcredentials is an optional program offered at no additional cost that builds upon the university’s required general education curriculum. Students use skills developed through their coursework and apply them through additional curricular and co-curricular experiences.
Students can choose courses in five focus areas: Community Engagement, Environmental Stewardship, Ethical Leadership, Global Connections and Media Literacy. Those courses can serve as pathways toward badged microcredentials that combine traditional coursework with co-curricular experiences.
“This award is a recognition of the collaborative leadership and engagement that brought forth a truly novel and forward-thinking idea to general education,” Gross said. “Through setting the stage with students, staff, faculty, administrators, and employers, Dr. Stone built the relationships and legitimacy to form not only one program, but two, as the results of her efforts gave birth to Jax MIX and Jax MIX Microcredentials.”
University data shows participation in the microcredential program has increased since its launch. From spring 2025 to spring 2026, the number of individual students attending Jax MIX events increased 33.3%, while overall student attendance increased 38.8%. Enrollment in courses leading to a Jax MIX microcredential increased 271% during the same period.
By spring 2026, students had earned microcredentials in each of the program’s five focus areas.
The Association for General and Liberal Studies is a national organization focused on strengthening general and liberal education in higher education. Its Exemplary General Education Program Award annually recognizes up to three institutions for significant improvements to their general education programs supported by evidence of effectiveness.
