Frequently Asked Questions

The cost for the course is $685.

Group rates are available for those purchasing 5 or more seats. Contact the Rural Grocery Initiative, rgi-learn@ksu.edu, if you are interested in a quote for a group.

This course contains seven online modules that include homework assessments and interactive discussion boards paired with guided learning through four 1.5 to 2-hour synchronous virtual sessions.

1. Assessment of Grocery Attitudes & Relationship Building
2. Transition Planning Fundamentals
3. Business Valuation Fundamentals
4. Communicating About Transition
5. Finding New Ownership
6. Buyer Funding and Hiring a Manager
7. Into the Future and Additional Resources

This program is designed to train and deploy resource professionals across the country to better serve rural grocers through business transitions. The course is open to all, but is geared towards Extension professionals, economic developers and other resource providers who support rural grocers and rural community vitality across the country.

The homework assessments and discussion boards will be graded using the assessment rubric in the course outline. An overall score of 75% is needed to earn the Rural Grocery Transition Specialist microcredential and digital badge from Kansas State University. All assignments must be submitted to receive the microcredential and digital badge.

This course includes four virtual sessions that are synchronous, meaning everyone will be attending it at the same time. You can attend the session from any location with internet access. These sessions are interactive. During these sessions, you will learn about topics related to the course and have time for discussion with your course cohort. For the fall 2026 offering of this course, the virtual sessions will be held on the following dates from 10 AM to 12 PM Central Time:

• September 8, 2026
• September 22, 2026
• October 13, 2026
• November 3, 2026

Yes. Participation in the synchronous virtual sessions is mandatory for this course. For the fall 2026 offering of this course, the four required virtual sessions will be held on the following dates from 10 AM to 12 PM Central Time:

• September 8, 2026
• September 22, 2026
• October 13, 2026
• November 3, 2026

There is also an optional session held after the course is completed to welcome new specialists. This fall, that optional session will be held on December 8th at 10:30 AM Central Time.

The Rural Grocery Specialist program is supervised by three program facilitators. The facilitators will guide you through the course, facilitate Zoom sessions, grade homework and discussion prompts, and provide resources throughout the course.

This course is taught by an experienced team of content creators with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. You can view all of the course instructors on our Meet the Teaching Team page.

Students should expect to spend approximately 25-30 hours total to complete the course over a 13-week period.

We offer this course twice a year, with courses starting in January and September.

See the course details page for more information.

If you must cancel your registration, please do so two weeks prior to the registration deadline to receive a refund less a $50.00 cancellation fee. To cancel your registration, please send a written request to registration@k-state.edu with the program name in the subject line. Registered participants who do not cancel their registration by the refund deadline are responsible for registration fees even if they do not participate.

Kansas State University may cancel or postpone this program because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If the program is canceled, registration fees will be refunded. Fees will not be refunded if the program is held but the registrant is unable to participate and has not requested a refund by the cancellation deadline.

The first week is designed to allow students to practice logging on to Canvas, review the course materials, and watch the introductory videos.

Instructions for logging into Canvas will be sent to you by email the week before the synchronous Zoom.

Students should complete Module 0 prior to attending the first synchronous Zoom.

K-State Microcredentials are developed, approved and endorsed by the university and are designed to meet current and emerging market needs and align with relevant industry standards. They showcase the knowledge you've acquired on the road to mastering skills in your area of interest. Smaller than a minor, certificate or degree program, microcredentials equip learners with digital badges that showcase achievement and demonstrated skills.

An overall score of 75% is needed to earn the Rural Grocery Transition Specialist microcredential from Kansas State University. All assignments must be submitted to receive the microcredential.

You may use AI tools to support your learning on homework assignments only — permitted uses include brainstorming, grammar checks, and feedback on drafts you have already written yourself. AI tools are not permitted for discussion board posts or replies, which must be written entirely in your own words; you may also not input another student's discussion post into any AI tool for any purpose. If you choose to use AI for your homework assignments, you may not submit any AI-generated text as your own writing — meaning you may not paste a prompt into an AI tool and submit what it produces, in whole or in part. Any AI use must be cited as follows: "Title of AI Tool. Full prompt and conversation. Date of use." Failure to cite AI use on a homework assignment, or any AI use on a discussion board post or reply, will result in a grade of 0 for that assignment.