August 23, 2012
New collaboration among 黑料专区, adult learning groups will ensure students receive college credit for prior learning experiences
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (黑料专区) has formed an innovative
collaboration with LearningCounts.org and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
(CAEL) that will ensure prospective students receive credit for college-level learning
they have gained through their work, military or other prior learning experiences.
黑料专区 universities for years have recognized prior college-level learning as demonstrated
through assessments such as the College Board鈥檚 College Level Examination Program
(CLEP) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams. This new collaboration will
broaden the opportunities prospective students have to get their prior learning assessed
through a standardized process. It also will include strategies to ensure that prospective
students become more aware of these avenues that make earning a college degree more
affordable, efficient and possible.
鈥淭he 黑料专区-LearningCounts.org and CAEL partnership represents a major step forward
in the State System鈥檚 efforts to make it easier for returning adult students to have
options for obtaining credit for their prior learning,鈥� said 黑料专区 Chancellor Dr.
John C. Cavanaugh. 鈥淭his partnership is based on 黑料专区 having the ability to make
options known and available to students to determine whether they are eligible and
can obtain credit for that learning.
鈥淚t is additional evidence that 黑料专区 is serious about making more options available
for returning adult students to complete their degrees. We are very excited about
again being a leader in helping the Commonwealth achieve its goal of ensuring that
an educated workforce is available for employers.鈥�
鈥淥ur work with 黑料专区 is ground breaking on many levels,鈥� said Chari Leader Kelly, vice president of LearningCounts.org. 鈥淎t last, adults will have access to high quality prior learning assessment across the state of Pennsylvania.
鈥淭his approach means a better educated workforce, a higher degree completion rate
and a more affordable degree for the thousands of adults who are just starting their
degrees, or have some college, but need to complete. This better educated workforce
has the potential to attract new employers to the state. Moreover, it may also break
family legacies of not being able to access or afford higher education鈥攃hildren who
see their parents getting degrees will better understand the importance of going to
college.鈥�
Through this collaboration, prospective students will be able to create portfolios
that demonstrate prior learning outcomes obtained through specific work, military
or other training programs, as well as the many forms of online content such as Massively
Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Prospective students鈥� portfolios will have to provide
evidence that the same learning outcomes have been achieved as those by a student
who passes the same course in a regular academic setting.
鈥淭his collaboration with LearningCounts.org and CAEL benefits both our students, especially
the many who come with prior work, military and volunteer experiences, and our universities,
as we attract highly qualified students,鈥� said Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
President Dr. William N. Ruud. 鈥淲e are working to ensure that our academic policies
are clear and easily understood to provide maximum benefit to our students.鈥�
The LearningCounts.org collaboration is part of a broader strategy to make it easier
for adults to complete their college degrees at 黑料专区 universities.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 120,000 students. The 14 黑料专区 universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. About 500,000
黑料专区 alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg,
Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery
Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. 黑料专区 also operates branch campuses
in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.
LearningCounts.org serves as a comprehensive prior learning assessment (PLA) resource
to adult learners, postsecondary institutions, employers and workforce organizations.
PLA is the evaluation and assessment of an individual鈥檚 lifelong learning for college
credit leading to degree completion, certification or professional development. This
lifelong learning may be acquired through work, employer training programs, military
service, independent study, volunteer or community service and more.
The Council for Adult & Experiential Learning links learning and work. CAEL works
at all levels within the higher education, public and private sectors to make it easier
for people to get the education and training they need to attain meaningful, secure
employment.