Process of Assessment of Prior Learning
It is possible to earn credits for learning derived from work and life experience through documentation of acquired knowledge and or/skills. Credits must be non-duplicative of successful course work or testing already completed by the learner. The decision to award credits is made by the chair of the department associated with the credits being sought. This department chair reviews the completed portfolio and recommends to the Registrar the number of credits to be awarded in the assessed areas. A $50 per credit fee is charged per credit attempted. Credits earned by portfolio assessment may be applied toward General Education requirements or open electives, or may replace major requirements if approved by the faculty of the major discipline through the course substitution process.

The process of assessment follows these steps:

1. Initial interview with the Chair of the department in discipline in which he/she seeks credit
1. Description of requirements needed for assessment and review of student's status.
2. Preliminary evaluation of knowledge gained through life and/or job experience.
2. Portfolio Development
1. Student prepares portfolio which will verify the acquisition of knowledge through experiential earning.
2. Portfolio of Life/Work Experience - Sample Table of Contents
   
   1. Title Page
   2. Table of Contents
   3. Personal Essay
   4. Short autobiography
   5. Degree Plan
   6. All transcripts from colleges previously attended or currently attending
   7. Resume
   8. Portfolio Assessment Worksheet
   9. Narrative essays for Attempted Credits
   10. Descriptions of responsibilities related to credit(s) request.
   11. Documentation
   1. Letters from employers
   2. Job descriptions
   3. Certificates from training programs
   4. Examples of work
3. Bibliography, if applicable
3. Portfolio Evaluation
1. The Chair of the department (and/or designee) will review the portfolio and determine if sufficient information has been provided. The Chair may recommend appropriate revisions if the content is insufficient or unclear.
2. The Chair makes a determination about how many credits, if any, will be awarded and, if applicable, the specific course that has been satisfied.
3. The Chair records the decision in writing and communicates the decision to:
   
   1. the student
   2. the registrar
   3. the Academic and Career Advising Center
4. The Academic and Career Advising Center Transfer Evaluation staff completes a transfer evaluation of the recommended credits and posts the credits in the Registrar's Office.
5. Student will receive transfer evaluation listing the portfolio credits earned. This signals that the credits are now part of the student's transcript.
6. Student is billed for the assessment.