Bridging the Gap to Graduation with Prior Learning Assessment
Session Type
Thinking (Concurrent Session): 60-75 minutes
Session Description
This session is designed for adult educators that have or will develop prior learning assessment courses in higher education. The session will explore various methods of developing life learning narratives designed to acknowledge college level and credit worthy prior learning from outside the confines of the college walls. As a part of the adult learner initiative in the state of Kentucky, the Project Graduate plan has been put into place to increase the participation rate of adult learners from 3.6 % to 4.5% by 2020. In addition, the 55,000 Degrees Plan for Louisville, KY has influenced increased degree completion plans in the Commonwealth’s colleges and universities. The University of Louisville’s Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning Program is designed for working adults, and is offered online and/or in class. Prior learning assessment is used to give credit for life learning in a specialty area that has not previously been awarded credit. Students can earn up to 48 semester hours of credit from college level and credit worthy experiential learning that happened outside the confines of university classrooms. Most often this university prior learning credit is given for learning from on-the- job training and development, continuing educational units, military training courses, as well as CLEP tests. Credit is not awarded for work experience per se, but for the learning that occurred as the result of work or life experiences that are comparable to college-level courses.
Session Focus
Online Programming
Session Audience
Faculty
Program Staff
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/662d6b04d22edc27542d17f7e2135afb.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Matt Bergman, University of Louisville")
Matt Bergman, University of Louisville
Brief Bio
Matt Bergman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville in the College of Education and Human Development. He teaches adult students (25 and older) in the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning program. Dr. Bergman’s research is focused on factors that impact adult learners in degree completion programs at four-year universities and he recently won a national competition for Innovation in Educational Attainment from the Gheens Foundation based upon local implementation of his research.
Dr. Bergman has also served in several other capacities at Appalachian State University and Lees-McRae College in Western North Carolina working in Enrollment Management, Athletic Learning Assistance, and Admissions. He has consistently shown his commitment to advancing degree attainment for reaching regional, state, and national educational goals for America. Prior to his career in Higher Education, Matt played Arena Football in Charleston, SC for a total of three seasons. He received a B.S. in Sports Administration, Physical Education, and Health Education from Union College in Barbourville, KY (Cum Laude). He received a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and a PhD in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development from the University of Louisville. He is a teacher, administrator, and ambassador of degree attainment both locally, and nationally.