As changing student demographics make it harder for today's learners to earn a four-year degree, educators are experimenting with smaller credentialing steps, such as digital badges. Mark Milliron, chancellor of Western Governors University Texas, advocates the creation of a "family of credentials," ranging from digital badges to certifications, that provide steppingstones for students to advance their education--all the way to advanced degrees in many cases--without forfeiting everything if they need to drop out. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has hailed badges as "a game-changing strategy," particularly for veterans returning to civilian life with skills and accomplishments that do not appear on their resumes. While industry certifications are already highly valued in business, there is a lot more uncertainty about how digital badges will fit into the larger marketplace of credentials.