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2. Prior Learning 101 – Session 2 The Portfolio – What Is It?

3. Prior Learning 101 Webinar– Session 2
Ray Francis
Faculty, Department of Teacher Education and Professional Development
Part 1 - What Is the Portfolio? How Long Does It Take?
Part 2 - Putting the Portfolio Together – Bits and Pieces
Part 3 - Timelines and Deadlines
Part 4 - Helpful Resources
Prior Learning
Portfolio Program

4. The Portfolio What Is It and How Long Does It Take
What is the Prior Learning Portfolio?
The Portfolio contains a collection of YOUR documents and written assessments (work, training and life experiences) put together in a binder which will be submitted to the Assessment Team for evaluation and awarding of credits.
Guidelines, Samples and Fillable Forms on the PLA website will walk you through the process of preparing the portfolio binder. There are many resources available to assist you in preparing your portfolio.
Pre-planning Your Portfolio by collecting documents, determining competencies tied to your experiences (work, life or trainings), utilizing worksheets and resources is key to ensuring your final submitted portfolio demonstrates college level work for the awarding of credits. The Assessment Team is looking for depth and quality.
YOUR portfolio is prepared by YOU on YOUR schedule. How long it takes to prepare the portfolio is up to you. We have had students that have completed a portfolio in as little as a few weeks while others may take a few months. As mentioned, pre-planning is the key. It may take some time to obtain necessary employment verifications, training syllabi/course descriptions, letters from human resources or any other documents needed to back-up the competencies you will be writing about.
The portfolio is your key to saving time and money!
What is the Prior Learning Portfolio Program?
Students create a portfolio in which they write assessments of what they have learned and how they have applied it in the workplace or in life. Undergraduate or graduate college credits are awarded based on your written assessments tied to college level competencies.
YOUR portfolio is prepared by YOU on YOUR schedule. Based on an average 24* undergraduate credits awarded, these credits would take the average undergraduate student 2 – 4 semesters to complete (based on 8-three credit courses). The average graduate credits awarded are 6* which would represent 1- 2 semesters based on 2-three credit course) *the potential awards are based on a number of criteria including time on job, dates, competencies etc.
Undergraduate students can earn up to 60* credits towards select degrees and graduate students can earn up to 10* credits towards select degrees.
Not having to spend the time in class to earn credits gives you more time for your jobs, families, other classes or other activities.
This represents a significant TIME SAVINGS FOR YOU!
Prior Learning Portfolio Program
WHAT IS THE PORTFOLIO?

5. Putting the Portfolio Together – The Bits and Pieces
The portfolio contains the following components:
Three Ring Binder
7 Tab Dividers
- General Information
- Transcripts and Transfer Credit Evaluations
- Table of Contents
- Work Experience Section
- Training Experience Section
- Life Experience Section
- Portfolio Checklist (this helps to ensure all necessary forms and documents have been included)
- Signature and Notary Page
You will need to prepare 3 portfolios – 2 to submit and 1 for you to keep.
Portfolios that are not structured as detailed in the student handbook and don’t include all necessary documents (see the Student Handbook for more specific descriptions), may be returned to you to correct and resubmit.
In addition to the significant time savings that can be achieved through the Prior Learning Portfolio process, there is also a SIGNIFICANT MONEY SAVINGS to submit a portfolio and pay for the credits awarded.
The cost to submit a portfolio is a low fee of $125 and includes unlimited submission of portfolios beyond your initial portfolio should you want to attempt to gain more credits.
Undergraduate students pay 77+% LESS per credit hour than the regular in-state tuition rate for undergraduate credits awarded.
Graduate students pay 85+% LESS per credit hour than the regular in-state tuition rate for graduate credits awarded
24 undergraduate credits awarded* would cost approximately $2,280 vs. $9,720**
6 graduate credits awarded* would cost approximately $570 vs. $3,600**
*based on the average awarded credits per undergraduate or graduate portfolios
** based on current tuition rates for undergraduate and graduate in-state tuition
Prior Learning Portfolio Program
PUTTING A PORTFOLIO TOGETHER

6. Timelines and Deadlines
Are there Timelines and Deadlines to Submit Portfolios?
Submit as early as possible in your degree program. This enables you to efficiently plan your degree program and the courses you need to take.
Ideally, portfolios should be submitted within four months of your admission. This will allow your advisor to place your credits within your program plan within the various concentration areas/or electives, which will reduce the number of courses you may need to take and put you on the ‘Fast Track’ to complete your degree.
Portfolios can be submitted at anytime but should you need credits in time for graduation, please consider the following timelines.
August Graduation – portfolios should be received by May 1st.
December Graduation – portfolios should be received by September 1st.
May Graduation – portfolios should be received by February 1st.
Once we receive your portfolio, the evaluation and assessment period takes approximately 6-8 weeks .
Don’t Procrastinate and Wait Until the Last Minute!!
Prior Learning credits awarded can be used on select degrees*. Currently, credits awarded can be used on the following undergraduate and graduate degrees:
Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science, Community Development
Bachelor of Science, Integrated Leadership
Bachelor of Science, Administration
Electives for other CMU majors
Graduate: Master of Science Administration, all concentrations
Master of Education, various concentrations
*Prior Learning credits may be used on other degree programs but you must check with and get approval from your academic advisor prior to starting a portfolio.
Credits are awarded as: Undergraduate [UNV 297 or UNV 497] and Graduate [UNV 697].
5 CMU credits must be taken and posted on the transcript prior to applying prior learning credits.
Always consult with your advisor to see if Prior Learning credits will work for you.
Prior Learning Portfolio Program
TIMELINES AND DEADLINES

7. We Are Here to Help RESOURCES YOUR success is OUR success!
In Person – if you are in the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan area, you can schedule an appointment with our Prior Learning staff located in Park Library-Room 415A. Call (866) , option #1.
Phone – call our Prior Learning staff members who can assist you over the phone. Call (866) , option #1.
– send your questions to us via
Webinar Series: our monthly live webinars will continue and focus on specific topics helpful to you as you begin the Prior Learning Portfolio process
Online Office Hours: online office hours are scheduled several times monthly where you can join others in an online setting to get guidance and address questions pertaining to your portfolio planning and process. Check our webpage for more details.
Writing Center and Writing Workshops – as a CMU student, you have access to the Writing Center. You can submit your writings online and they will be reviewed by a Writing Center consultant and returned to you with comments. Check our main Prior Learning webpage for any Writing Workshops that may be scheduled (in person or online). Visit the Writing Center online at
Webpage – our webpage has a wealth of information to assist you in planning, preparing and submitting a portfolio. The web page has links to worksheets/templates, a comprehensive Student Handbook, FAQs, links to archived webinars, video briefings and much more. .
Prior Learning Portfolio Program
RESOURCES

8. Thank you for attending today’s webinar.
Please check our webpage for the next webinars in the Prior Learning 101 series.
YOUR success is OUR success!