Finish Faster Using What You’ve Already Learned?
Presentation Type
30-Minute Presentations
Presentation Abstract (250 word max.)
Middle Tennessee State University began offering Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) in 2007 to help adults finish their baccalaureate degrees by earning credit for their learning from work and outside training programs. More than 1000 students have successfully completed the program, earning an average of 24 PLA credits per student. PLA has proven to be a dynamic recruitment tool, motivating adults to reenter higher education and finish a degree much quicker and more economically than anticipated. It has also been a significant factor in partnering with community colleges and corporations.
In 2017 we extended the use of prior learning to our Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) programs. The parameters are different for graduate level PLA in which the MPS students can earn up to 6 credit hours by creating a graduate portfolio for either one or two courses. The portfolio is approved by the PLA Director, the MPS Director and a graduate faculty expert for the course(s). The graduate PLA has attracted a variety of students who might not have returned to earn their MPS degree.
This presentation will discuss how students are identified for the PLA program, the documentation and assessment of their prior learning and how that credit is applied to various degree programs. It will also address how prior learning assessment is used to recruit potential students and encourage partnerships with other schools and corporations.