1. Middle Tennessee State University Prior Learning Assessment adcp@mtsu.edu

2. Prior Learning Assessment The process of earning college credit from learning acquired through a student’s work, training, volunteer experiences, and personal life. Earn College Credit for What You Know by Janet Colvin adcp@mtsu.edu

3. Program Features New program-First class F07 Part of Adult Degree Completion Program Block elective credit Maximum of 30 hours Specialization Area related to degree Applies to 3 online degree programs only Based on ACE evaluations Portfolio 3 credit hour 3000 level class adcp@mtsu.edu

4. Other University Assessment Programs Military Credit CLEP Tests Challenge exams Engineering Technology Portfolio Global Studies Nursing: LPN to RN and RN to BSN Other department specific programs

5. ADCP Marketing Radio ads prior to each semester “Sales calls” to area businesses and organizations Web site: www.mtsu.edu/adcp or www.finishmydegreenow.com or www.mtsuanytime.comwww.mtsu.edu/adcp or www.finishmydegreenow.com www.mtsuanytime.com Newspaper, radio and TV publicity whenever possible Internal marketing within University

6. PLA TOOLS Transcript/learning evaluation Web Site: www.mtsu.edu/adcpwww.mtsu.edu/adcp PLA Handbook Portfolio Development Class Time budget work sheet Orientation first week of class Uses of Credit Agreement Academic Plan adcp@mtsu.edu

7. Participant status 12 classes/216 students to date: F07-F10 186 or 86% completed portfolios Average credit awarded = 21 61 or 33% graduated with PLA credit 71% either graduated or are enrolled in classes S11 65% were not enrolled at MTSU prior to PLA adcp@mtsu.edu

8. Why We Do It Shirley Chuck Helen Greg Sam adcp@mtsu.edu

9. Shirley Attended MTSU in the 90’s Athletic Scholarship Business Major Good GPA and Senior Status Stopped out due to personal reasons Returned in 2000s as online student, but unable to take required Business courses online Earned over 120 hours, but when major changed from Business she had too many Business hours PLA credit for Supervisory and Worker’s Compensation training allowed her to earn enough non business credit to complete her degree. adcp@mtsu.edu

10. Chuck Left MTSU in 80s to start a family and career Needed 18 hours to graduate Moved out of Tennessee Faced with out of state tuition or 30 hours of residency at new state institution Returned to MTSU online and earned enough credit from PLA for Concrete Management and procurement training to complete degree. adcp@mtsu.edu

11. Helen Adult, online student, parent, full time police officer 3.0 average taking 15 hours online each semester Earned 28 hours of credit from PLA for Police Academy training Graduated and is now in enrolled full time in online Masters program adcp@mtsu.edu

12. Greg Attended MTSU off and on over past 20 years accumulating 19 hours Wife earned PhD and pressure from his job to earn a degree Completed 6 year apprenticeship program evaluated by ACE for 60 hours of credit Awarded 30 hours of credit through PLA Jump started his return to education Now has 60 hours toward his degree adcp@mtsu.edu

13. Sam Stopped out of private college in 1992 Career/technical ed HS teacher Aspires to be a HS principal Spring 08: 9 hrs CLEP Summer 08: –12 hrs CLEP/challenge –16 hrs classroom credit –21 hrs PLA credit Fall 08: 9 hrs classroom credit Graduated Fall 2008 adcp@mtsu.edu