Prior Learning Assessment: The Academic and Business Models

Bo ZilovicPLA Coordinator

Assistant Professor, Information Systems & Aviation StudiesTechnology Committee Chair

bzilovic@atlantic.edu

Sherwood L. TaylorCredit for Prior Learning Program Administrator

Director, Workforce Developmentstaylor@atlantic.edu

Session Objectives

• Atlantic Cape Overview• Brief History of the Higher Education Crediting System • Definitions (PLA and Credit for Prior Learning)• Students Served & PLA Credits Awarded• Methods of Earning Credit at Atlantic Cape• The Business Model• College and Career Pathways• Challenges and Lessons Learned

foster student learning by promoting

stewardship

access excellence

Over 40 career training programs offered by workforce development

Number of Campuses: 3Mays Landing, Cape May County, Atlantic City

1966

537- acre Mays

Landing Campus

41Academic degrees

9 Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degrees1 Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.) Degree

16 Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degrees

15 Associate in Science (A.S.) Degrees

More than $300,000 awarded annually in scholarships

40 transfer agreements with four-year institutions

11 training kitchens

15 degree programs100% online

Brief History of theHigher Education Crediting System

The Team

• Chief Academic OfficerJosette Katz, Ed.DInterim Vice President of Academic Affairs

• Prior Learning Assessment CoordinatorBo ZilovicAssistant Professor, Information Systems & Aviation StudiesTechnology Committee Chair

• Transcript EvaluatorBarbara ClarkTranscript Evaluator

• Credit for Prior Learning Program AdministratorSherwood L. TaylorDirector, Workforce Development

Definitions

Prior Learning Assessment– The process to determine that college-level

learning has taken place. Credit for Prior Learning– Earning credit for prior college-level learning

outside the traditional classroom setting.

To ensure the integrity of the credit for Prior Learning process at Atlantic Cape.

Operating Procedure

Operating Procedure

• Candidates requesting consideration for Prior Learning consideration submits their documentation for evaluation.

• All documentation is reviewed for creditworthiness based on Atlantic Cape’s procedures and protocols contained in Credit for Prior Learning Program Guide.

• Items not currently listed in this guide are subject to a research process conducted by the office of Workforce Development to determine whether there is existing documentation supporting college-level learning by another accredited institution.

• Workforce Development will then generate a report on its findings and then submit that report to the area dean for approval, then to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for final approval.

• The student will then receive their credits according to current guidelines. Moreover, the newly approved credential would be added to the Credit for Prior Learning Guide.

Operating Procedure

• When creditworthiness cannot be documented or verified, the student will be referred to complete the portfolio process.

• Faculty portfolio evaluation allows students to present evidence of college-level learning.

• Based on the outcome of this process, up to 25 credits may be awarded.

• Students will enroll in the Workforce Development portfolio course to learn how to develop their portfolio.

• Upon completion of the workshop, the portfolio is submitted to the appropriate faculty advisor for review and evaluation.

Students Served & PLA Credits Awarded

2010-2016 served 134 PLA students

25 course credits in AAS degree

17 degrees 42 CE/Workforce

PLA Students Served

4 4

1411

23

43

35

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Students

PLA Credits Awarded

100 100

419

275

552

916

697

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Credits

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Technical Studies

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Technical Studies

• Individualized for the non-traditional learner• 20 General Education Credits• up to 25 Technical Core credits

Methods of Earning Credit at Atlantic Cape

Methods of Earning Credit at Atlantic Cape

• Credit by Examination, External• Credit by Examination, Atlantic Cape• Credit by Certification & Credential• Credit by Transcript Evaluation• Credit by Portfolio Assessment

Credit by Examination, External

Credit by Examination, External

DSST Subject Examinations Equivalent Atlantic Cape Course

Introduction to Business Introduction to Business – BUSN101

Principles of Financial Accounting Financial Accounting- ACCT130 (4)

Principles of Supervision Principles of Management-BUSN120 (3)

Introductory Business Law Business Law -BUSN 210 (3)

Principles of Macroeconomics Principles of Economics I - ECON110 (3)

Principles of Marketing Principles of Marketing- BUSN102 (3)

Management Information System Management Information System – BUSN/CISM247 (3)

Technical Writing Technical Communication – TCOM125 (3)

Credit by Examination, External

CLEP Subject Examinations Equivalent Atlantic Cape Course

Financial Accounting Financial Accounting- ACCT130 (4)

Principles of Management Principles of Management-BUSN120 (3)

Introductory Business Law Business Law -BUSN 210 (3)

Principles of Macroeconomics Principles of Economics I - ECON110 (3)

Principles of Marketing Principles of Marketing- BUSN102 (3)

Information Systems and Computer Applications Introduction to Computers - CISM125 (3)

French Language I & II Elementary French I & II - FREN111/112 (6)

Spanish Language I & II Elementary Spanish I & II - SPAN111/112 (6)

Credit by Examination, Atlantic Cape

Competency Exams (Challenge)

Hospitality Management• Orientation to Hospitality and Tourism• Food Service Sanitation• Restaurant Operations• Hospitality Sales and Marketing• Hotel Operations• Human Resources Management• Catering and Events Planning• Beverage Operations

Competency Exams (Challenge)

Course # Name of Course Students may apply for credit by completing the following:

HOSP 100 Orientation to Hospitality and Tourism

• The student must have the equivalent of one-year full-time experience in the hospitality or tourism industry

• Complete an instructor created exam with 70% or better OR have certification by the AH&LA in Introduction to the Hospitality Industry

• Complete a Service Learning Project

HOSP 132 Food Service Sanitation• The student must have a valid ServSafe Food Protection Manager

certification.

HOSP 134 Restaurant Operations

• The student must have a valid ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification

• The student must have the equivalent of one-year full-time experience in the foodservice industry including front of the house experience

• Complete an instructor created exam with 70% or better OR have certification by the AH&LA in Food Management

• Complete a Restaurant Operations project

Hospitality Management

Competency Exams (Challenge)

Paralegal Studies• Wills and Estates• Real Estate TransactionsHealth Sciences• Medical TerminologyComputer Technology• Introduction to Computers• Operating Systems

Competency Exams (Challenge)

Course # Name of Course Students may apply for credit by completing the following:

LEGL249 Wills and Estates Complete an instructor created exam with 70% or better and complete an instructor directed portfolio.

LEGL251 Real Estate Transactions Complete an instructor created exam with 70% or better and complete an instructor directed portfolio.

Paralegal Studies

Credit by Certification & Credential

Credit by Certification & Credential

• Allied Health• Building and Construction Trades• Business• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)• Healthcare Professions• Law Enforcement

Credit by Certification & Credential

• Must present valid credentials• Up to 25 credits toward the technical core for the

A.A.S. in Technical Studies• May be eligible for course equivalency

transfer for program• If there is no documentation of training then

research is needed for the credential• Must take a workshop to design and develop

a portfolio

Credit by Certification & Credential

Licenses and/or Certifications Equivalent Course(s) Credits

FAA Private Pilot Airplane License Private Pilot Ground School – AVIT110 &Private Pilot – AVIT210 6

FAA Private Pilot Rotorcraft License Private Pilot Helicopter – AVIT145 6

FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane License Commercial Pilot – AVIT280 6

FAA Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft License Commercial Pilot Helicopter – AVIT265 6

FAA Instrument Pilot Airplane License Instrument Pilot – AVIT240 6

FAA Instrument Pilot Rotorcraft License Instrument Pilot Helicopter – AVIT255 6

FAA Flight Engineer Technical Core 9

FAA Flight Dispatcher Technical Core 3

Credit by Certification & Credential

Licenses and/or Certifications Equivalent Course(s) Credits

Clinical Medical Assistant (National Healthcareer Association) Technical Core 7

Certified Patient Care Technician (National Healthcareer Association) Technical Core 3

Certified EKG Technician (National Healthcareer Association) Technical Core 3

Certified Central Service Technician (The International Association for Healthcare Central Service Material Management)• Introduction to Sterile Processing, 3 credits• Surgical Instrumentation, 3 credits• Clinical Practicum, 6 credits

Technical Core 12

New Jersey Emergency Medical Technician Certification (NREMT optional) Technical Core 6

New Jersey Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic Certification (NRP optional) Technical Core 16

Credit by Transcript Evaluation

Credit by Transcript Evaluation

Evaluation of the following may be reviewed for transfer credit: – Coursework completed at a regionally accredited U.S.

college or university, – American Council on Education (ACE), – Advanced Placement exam scores, – CLEP and military training, – New Jersey Police Academy/Corrections Academy training, – high school articulation agreement coursework,

international education

Credit by Transcript Evaluation

• Students transferring to Atlantic Cape may seek credit for Atlantic Cape courses when equivalent courses, practical training, or exams have been previously completed.

• A maximum of 32 credits is accepted for transfer.• Only courses with a minimum grade of 'C' or 2.0 GPA are accepted

for transfer credit. A grade of 'C-' is not transferable.• Courses approved for transfer will not replace Atlantic Cape courses

nor will those grades be calculated into the Atlantic Cape grade point average.

• Grades earned for transfer courses will only be used to satisfy prerequisite course eligibility for specific Allied Health programs

Military Experience

• Need Joint Services Transcript (JST)• Up to 25 credits toward the technical core for

the A.A.S. in Technical Studies• May be eligible for course equivalency

transfer for program courses

Credit by Portfolio Assessment

Career Portfolio Development Course

• Workforce Development Offering• 48-hour online• Scheduled face-to-face meetings• Fee includes evaluation of portfolio• Content– Reflective essay– Letters of recommendation– Performance reports– Samples of work– Writing samples

Career Portfolio Development Course

The Business Model

Northeast Resiliency Consortium (TACCCT3)

• Consortium of 7 institutions• Develop standards for PLA• Provide professional development on PLA• Instructor Academy (two sessions)– Nan Travers– Faculty and Administrators– Portfolio Review or Competency Exam Development

• “Prior Learning Assessment Handbook” by Nan Travers

Workforce Development

New Department: College and Career Pathways Coordinator– College and Career Pathways Programs– Competency verification and portfolio development– Testing and Assessment– Marketing/Outreach (publications, events, web, presentations)– Reporting– Maintenance (master list, handbook) – New initiatives, new certifications– Costs, business models and procedures

College and Career Pathways

College Pathways– College Pathways: ESL Levels 1 (ESL 080)– Accuplacer Prep

Career Pathways– Guest Service/Front Desk (ESL Level 3)– TABE Prep (Test of Adult Basic Education)

College and Career Pathways

Competency Verification– Competency Exams (Challenge)

– Competency Skills EvaluationTesting/Assessment– PearsonVue– Dantes, CLEP, DSST/ACE– Cisco, Others

Portfolios– Career Portfolios (Faculty)

Career Portfolio Development Course

• Workforce Development Offering• Ongoing enrollment• $359 ($150 to instructor for online course,

$150 to portfolio evaluator, $59 surplus to Workforce Development)

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Implementation Challenges – Faculty and institutional support– Progressive training and awareness

for internal staff– Develop standard/universal PLA language

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned– Identify champions early– Develop an agreed upon timeline for

implementation– Develop a business model– Integrate PLA in funding requests– Increase number of PLA graduates

What’s next…

• Updating and redesign of processes• Begin expanded training of college staff• Develop three online courses for the

Financial Services Talent Development Center:– Foundations of Prior Learning Assessment (ONLINE)– Portfolio Development Course (ONLINE)

Prior Learning Assessment: The Academic and Business Models

Bo ZilovicPLA Coordinator

Assistant Professor, Information Systems & Aviation StudiesTechnology Committee Chair

bzilovic@atlantic.edu

Sherwood L. TaylorCredit for Prior Learning Program Administrator

Director, Workforce Developmentstaylor@atlantic.edu