Alternative Avenues for Non-Traditional Students: Finding Value in Prior Learning Assessment as a Faculty Member
Prior learning assessment (PLA) is a powerful tool for engaging non-traditional students. The task of evaluating requests for prior learning credit often falls to faculty members in community college settings. Some faculty doubt PLA because it removes students from seats in the classroom. Others aren’t sure what to say, or if they should say anything, when they identify a student whose prior work or learning experience may qualify them for PLA. This webinar demonstrates how to use PLA as a tool for building relationships with non-traditional students who are harder to engage, ensuring students are seated in future courses, and adding to successful graduate and completion numbers.
This webinar assists participants in understanding the long-term personal and institutional value of prior learning assessment. After this webinar, participants will be able to identify potential PLA candidates, develop a referral plan, and build their own methods of evaluation to determine if a student should or should not receive credit.
Susan Peek has been a Success Coach and Prior Learning Specialist at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama for almost seven years and has worked in higher education for more than 10 years. She assisted the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education in developing a statewide prior learning process and associated forms and has customized PLA for use in the community and technical college setting. She graduated with her B.A. from Berea College and is currently just a thesis shy of her M.A. at Faulkner University.
Please Note:
Only those attending the LIVE webinar will receive a certificate of attendance. Thank you!
It is interesting to learn about the difficulty and importance in identifying the non-traditional student. It’s important to learn of the experience or time the student has in a certain interested field. Faculty must be current with the school’s process and policies.
Jim Scogin, Math Instructor, ASLSPS, Augusta Tech
Excellent points about the benefits to be gained by both the student and the college when a successful prior learning assessment program is in place.
Thank you!
Dr. Vicki D. Vandervelde – Business
Both myself and many of my students over the years have been non-traditional students and I so appreciate the great benefit that prior learning assessment offers to those who have already put the time and effort into prior learning or prior experience. Credit for prior learning can help students reach their ultimate goal of getting into or elevating themselves within their chosen field in less time and with less cost, and that alone can be a great boost of confidence and encouragement for students! I am also so thankful for those who work so diligently to help our students get through all of these processes!
-Miriam Holtzclaw, Business Division
This webinar helped me see another side to PLA. Thanks for the information.
Patrick McCormack, Business Division
Augusta Technical College.
Many good points here. I give credit for some classes, but have not a plan in place to further it. Our consortium has spoke on the topic of PLA but has not meet to discuss it.
Sean Joiner-business
Enjoyed the information on how PLA can build relationships with students in program, as well as offer the opportunity to engage with different student populations.
Kevin Ward
Great synopsis. A primary point of contact, a consistent process, and teamwork are some important elements of a successful PLA program. I agree that PLA credit is a great motivator for non-traditional students.
Tangela N. Smalls, Augusta Technical College
Using PLA in some of our agriculture courses could be very useful. We have students who grew up on farms and could easily apply PLA to shorten their course load. Great information.
Leah Bryant, Business Division.