Today’s Agenda Identifying the Scope of the Problem Background on Prior Learning Assessments What it is How it can help Who is CAEL? Why LearningCounts.org How it works Who uses it Its impact on recruiting and graduation rates Questions

About Your Presenters Cathy Brigham, Ph.D. Director of Academic Programs CAEL, LearningCounts.org Jo-Carol Fabianke, Ed.D. Associate Vice Chancellor Alamo Colleges

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning A 501(c)(3) non-profit, international organization with nearly 40 years of lifelong learning experience National leader in PLA best practices, research, and writing Dedicated to removing barriers to adult learning

Why College Completion Matters  U.S. position as a world leader in education has slipped from 4th – 11th (1997 – 2009)  By 2018, 63% of jobs will require some college or above Source: Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018, Georgetown University, Center for Education and the Workforce, June 2010

Tools to Meet these Workforce Needs  Common core initiatives / Transferability  2+2 programs create alliances between affordable community colleges and strong four-year programs  Dual-enrollment programs encourage a more prepared K-16 pipeline But these are traditional approaches to a nontraditional problem.

Finite number of traditional students – Focus on adult learners  Increase the numbers of highly-trained, college-educated individuals in the workforce  Prepare for emerging industries  Build on transferable skills

Focus On Adult Learners  Increase the numbers of highly- trained, college-educated individuals in the workforce  Prepare for emerging industries  Build on transferable skills

Barriers to Participation Access Affordability Aspiration

What is PLA? P rior L earning A ssessment is a process for evaluating knowledge and skills in order to award college credit for learning from: On-the-job learning Corporate training Independent study Military service Volunteer service

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How PLA Can Help: Graduation Rates Fueling the Race to Postsecondary Success, CAEL, March 2010

How PLA Can Help: Persistence

Not enough colleges granting credit for prior learning Need for consistent standards Adult learners are not aware of PLA so they often repeat what they already know Need for a national, on-line approach with easy access Ability to use faculty experts nationwide to review learning portfolios in various disciplines Why LearningCounts.org

1.One-Stop Shop for PLA 2.Free academic advising 3.Individualized portfolio development and review Why LearningCounts.org

LearningCounts.org educates adult learners about the multiple ways people can earn college credit for what they already know. Why LearningCounts.org

Students have the option to speak one-on one with a PLA advisor to find out which PLA option is right for them

Individualized Portfolios CAEL 100: Prior Learning Assessment Theory and Practice  Six-weeks, credit-bearing, online course  Facilitated by an instructor  Asynchronous  Courses start every few weeks  Teaches students how to recognize and document college level learning; leads them through the development of their portfolio.  Cost: $500

Create and Submit Portfolios  Each portfolio may contain up to 6 credits in any one discipline  Faculty from colleges and universities from across the country will evaluate portfolios and make credit recommendations  Two week turn-around  Credits will be recorded on an American Council on Education (ACE CREDIT) transcript  Cost: $250 for 1-6 credits attempted Individualized Portfolios

Portfolio Credits

Portfolio Disciplines

Faculty Assessors Nearly 800 faculty applications, 71 faculty assessors trained Online training for assessors (example?, screenshot?)

Who Uses LearningCounts.org Learners (matriculated and non) Institutions – marketing, accreditation, retention and completion improvement plans Corporations Workforce boards Professional associations Military to Medicine Veterans Upward Bound Achieving the Dream

Sample Partner Institutions

Student Benefits Access to free academic advising Information on all major forms of PLA Online – accessible – affordable National roster of faculty ensure coverage of all disciplines Credit-bearing course guiding them through portfolio Timely review of portfolios Transcription of results by ACE Fast, convenient, and reputable Access to philanthropic support

Foundation Support

Walmart Foundation Stipends The Walmart Learning Assessment Stipends program will ensure services offered by LearningCounts.org are available to low-income students. The stipends will fully support: 1. Enrollment in CAEL 100 (a $500 value) 2. Evaluation of one (or more) portfolio(s) For requests greater than six credits or across multiple disciplines, students may submit additional portfolios for a fee of $250/portfolio.

Achieving the Dream and LearningCounts.org have partnered to remove obstacles that face adult students and accelerate the pace their learning. Achieving the Dream

33 years old Completed Associates Degree 7 years experience in Finance Saved > $3000 in tuition Graduating May 2012 Jeff Reardon

Here, a student testimonial was played during the live presentation. To access all of our student testimonials, please visit:

Benefits Benefit your institution, faculty, and students Instant capacity to recruit, serve, and retain more adult learners Administer a PLA program simply and cost-effectively Refer your students to CAEL 100 and the portfolio process Eligible for Walmart Foundation stipends Requirements Agree to accept credit recommendations Institutional-level membership in CAEL Become a Partner

PartnerPlus Program Benefits Turn-key service with administrative and training support Option to list CAEL 100 in your academic catalog Flexibility to set your own tuition and assessment rates Ability to transcribe assessment results directly Requirements Institutional-level membership in CAEL Annual service fee

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For more information @cathybrigham