Frequently Asked Questions
- About Acumen Academy
- Courses
- Create an Acumen Academy Account
- Log In
- Accelerators
- About the Acumen Fellowship
- Contact Acumen Academy
- Contact Us
About Acumen Academy
What is Acumen Academy?
Acumen Academy is the world’s school for social change. We inspire the world to build solutions to poverty and equip determined individuals using the knowledge and tools of business grounded in community and the practices of moral leadership.
Acumen Academy is a place where new role models and business models are created and celebrated. Building upon Acumen's impact investing knowledge and reputation over 20 years, Acumen Academy is where competence meets character, practical skills meet moral imagination, and urgency meets action.
Courses
What kind of courses are offered by Acumen Academy?
We offer online courses for social innovators. Our courses focus on equipping people around the world with practical tools and innovative mindsets to become more active and effective at tackling poverty.
Where can I learn about the course curriculum and time commitment?
You can find all Acumen Academy’s courses on the Course Catalog. Each course page includes a description and syllabus.
Are there instructors? Will my assignments be graded?
Courses are self-guided online learning experiences.There are no live instructor sessions and your assignments will not be reviewed or graded.
How do I enroll in a course?
Choose the course to learn more and then click “Enroll Now.” From there, you can either create a new account or log in using your existing account. You will then be prompted to enter the desired amount for the course fee, with the option to input $0 if you wish.
When are the assignments due?
While the course is open, you can watch the videos, review the readings, and submit your assignments whenever you want. The suggested pacing in the “Course Roadmap & Information” provides a recommended schedule to help you plan your time.
How do I earn a Statement of Accomplishment?
To receive a Statement of Accomplishment, you must complete and submit all of the required assignments and surveys. Check the “Course Roadmap & Information” section for deadlines.
Where can I find all my Statements of Accomplishment from previous courses?
If you completed a masterclass or short on-demand course, your Statement of Accomplishment will be sent to your email address. Please check your inbox and look for an email with the subject line: Congratulations! Statement of Accomplishment Enclosed. If after 30 minutes of completing both requirements you don't see the email, please check your spam and promotions folders (as well as the "Others" folders for Outlook). You might also want to check if your account is blocking incoming emails from Hubspot, and mark it as a safe sender, in order to get the email.
If you completed a team-based course, you can retrieve your Statements of Accomplishments directly from NovoEd (only accessible when you have an active course in your Dashboard).
If there are no active courses in your Acumen Academy dashboard, then there's no optimal way to access NovoEd to get a certificate. However, you can access NovoEd if you have any other active course. You could enroll in any team-based course that is On Demand (immediately available). Having it active in your Dashboard will let you go back to NovoEd and navigate your past courses from there (while the content of past courses is no longer available, you'll still be able to view the discussion boards, assignments, etc.)
To locate your Statement of Accomplishment from your NovoEd Dashboard. Please follow the instructions below:
- Locate the Acumen Academy website menu and click on "My Dashboard." Click on any active course you previously enrolled in to be redirected to NovoEd. Please note that you must access your Acumen Academy account in order to be redirected to the course platform.
- Once in NovoEd, you should be able to access your NovoEd Dashboard by clicking on the first item on the left side menu (usually, your profile picture).
- Click on the second item on the emerging menu "Profile.”
- You should be able to see past courses, your submissions, etc., and if you scroll down this overlay window, you'll find any Statements of Accomplishment issued.
- Click on any of the certificates and, on the upper right corner of the certificate viewer, click any of the "Share" or "Download" icon buttons.
Create an Acumen Academy Account
I’m a new user. How do I create an Acumen Academy account?
To create an Acumen Academy account, follow the instructions on this page.
I created a +Acumen account in the past. Why do I need to create a new account for Acumen Academy?
+Acumen has relaunched as Acumen Academy, so a new account is required.
What if I signed up for courses with multiple email addresses in the past?
If you signed up for courses using multiple email addresses in the past, you will have the opportunity to merge your accounts when you create a new Acumen Academy account.
Why can’t I see my past courses on my Acumen Academy dashboard?
You probably signed up for courses with a different email address in the past. To merge your accounts, visit your Dashboard and click “Something Missing?” to start the merging process.
Why can’t I see my past courses on my Acumen Academy dashboard?
You probably signed up for courses with a different email address in the past. To merge your accounts, visit your Dashboard and click “Something Missing?” to start the merging process.
I never got my email confirmation code. What should I do?
First, check your spam folder. If you still need help, email us at courses@acumenacademy.org.
Log In
How do I log in to Acumen Academy?
You can log in to Acumen Academy by clicking “Log In” located at the top.
How do I log in to a course?
Our new platform makes it easier for learners to access all of their courses in one place. To access your course, visit your Dashboard and click on your desired course.
What if I don’t remember the email I used to sign up for courses in the past?
We can only merge your accounts if you have access to your old email address. The enrollment process will require you to confirm your account by email.
How can I change my password?
Go to your Dashboard and click on “Account Settings.” Then, click “Edit Profile” to change your password.
How can I update my email address?
Go to your Dashboard and click on “Account Settings.” Then, click “Edit Profile” to update your Acumen Academy email address.
Accelerators
What are Accelerators?
Accelerators are interactive learning experiences led by a facilitator for small cohorts of innovators from nonprofits and social enterprises.
How are Accelerators different from Acumen Academy courses?
We’ve heard repeatedly from our course participants that they want more facilitated interaction with peers and feedback on assignments. Since we can’t offer this at scale to thousands of learners in our free courses, we are excited to offer Accelerator models to provide more targeted feedback and support for a smaller group of committed students.
How do I apply for an Accelerator?
Each Accelerator program has its own application and eligibility requirements. To find out which Accelerator program is right for you, visit the Accelerator homepage.
How are participants selected?
Each Accelerator program has unique eligibility requirements and selection criteria.
Does it cost anything to participate in an Accelerator?
All Accelerator programs are fully funded and free to participate.
How does Acumen Academy support Accelerator alumni?
About the Acumen Fellowship
What is the Acumen Fellowship?
The Acumen Fellowship is an intensive leadership program that brings together a cohort of extraordinary individuals working on problems of poverty and equips them with the knowledge, skills, and community to strengthen their leadership and scale their ventures to create meaningful change in their country/region.
Who is the Acumen Fellowship designed for?
The Acumen Fellowship in particular is designed for individuals working on social impact across a variety of sectors and regions. Throughout the Fellowship, participants: - Gain frameworks and tools to shift mindsets and perspectives - Practice moral leadership knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors - Build social capital and a supportive cohort - Develop a deeper understanding of systems, their role within them, and how to shift them - Drive change towards solving problems of poverty and building a world based on dignity
Who is eligible to apply?
The Fellowship looks for “builders” who are working to solve problems of poverty. They include Founders, CEOs, and senior leaders (COO, MD, etc.) at for-profit, nonprofit, or hybrid social enterprises as well as corporate or government sector intrapreneurs. While these titles offer a glimpse of the types of roles Fellows play, what matters most is what you're building and the track record of your impact.
Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience and should be able to demonstrate their commitment to solving issues of poverty.
Applicants should demonstrate their ability and willingness to give (contributing their knowledge, experiences, networks, and/or ideas) and receive support from the Foundry.
Applicants must have a reliable internet connection, be fully available to participate throughout the entirety of the program, and be able to participate in English or Spanish depending on the region and medium of instruction.