Prior Learning Assessment

Welcome to the School for Adult Learning at the University of Indianapolis!

Home > Site Map > Prior Learning Assessment

SUMMARY: It is possible to be granted college credit towards your degree for what you have learned from such experiences as (1) life experience, (2) work experience, (3) correspondence courses, (4) testing programs, (5) military service--even (6) non-accredited educational coursework from trade schools, technical institutes, business colleges, etc. This has the potential to reduce the amount of time it takes you to earn a college degree at the University of Indianapolis. Remember: college credit is granted for learning, not experience.

WARNING: Please read the Catalog to be sure you are complying with all degree requirements. The university publishes its degree requirements in the 2003-2005 University Catalog beginning on page 72. The last 30 semester hours of work must be in courses taken at the University of Indianapolis. While these last 30 hours may include CLEP or DSST testing, we do not recommend that you defer testing until the end of your academic career. There have been cases where students have not passed a particular exam, and their graduation has been deferred. We recommend that you complete all CLEP and DSST testing before you have earned 92.0 credit hours (senior status). Students must also earn at least one-third of the hours required in the major at the University of Indianapolis.

When you think of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) experiences, don't automatically rule out any experience you have undertaken as an adult! If you have learning from experience with computers, or business/management/sales experience, or you have been the church treasurer at your church for several years, or you have taken an Interior Design course through a correspondence program, or you have extensive banking, insurance, or similar experience, or you have been a law clerk at a law firm for several years, or you have non-transferable college credits from a trade school or technical institute (which traditionally would not transfer to a university degree program), or you are an ex-GI (prior military), then it is certainly possible that you may be eligible to document the learning that occurred through these experiences and to receive college credit for these and similar kinds of experiences.

NOTE: The examples given in this paragraph are not meant to be exhaustive in nature. There are hundreds if not thousands more possibilities, each as varied as the number of students that cross our doorstep. Each student's situation will be evaluated independently.

There are two ways to document prior learning:

Equivalency tests such as the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Students (DANTES) tests; the University of Indianapolis also has a few department-sponsored tests such as Microcomputer Applications (COMP150).
A portfolio documenting self-acquired competency (SAC). The portfolio process for SAC involves preparing a detailed, comprehensive portfolio documenting your learning from experience. In the portfolio, the learner demonstrates how the prior learning equates to the competencies of a specific course or courses. The portfolio is not something you can prepare overnight. It may take weeks or many hours, but the preparation is done on your own time, your own schedule. Compiling such a portfolio is also a powerful means of self-validation. Adult learners who have prepared and submitted portfolios have commented enthusiastically on how rewarding the process was for them.
For additional information about PLA opportunities, visit this Web site: http://sal.uindy.edu/plainfo.html.

Self-Acquired Competency Portfolio

Any U of I student who is at least 24 may submit a portfolio; portfolio submissions are not restricted to accelerated students. Students should complete 12.0 credit hours of U of I coursework before submitting a portfolio for evaluation. The portfolio may be started before the completion of 12.0 hours, but such a portfolio may not be submitted until you have accumulated a minimum of 12.0 credit hours at the University of Indianapolis. Students may apply a maximum of 30.0 credit hours earned through portfolio submission toward a bachelor's degree and a total of 15.0 hours earned through portfolio toward an associate's degree. Reminder: Credit is awarded for the learning that you document from your experience, not for the experience alone.

Procedures for submitting a portfolio (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Self-Acquired Competency Portfolio Contract (requires Acrobat Reader).
Self-Acquired Competency Portfolio Certification Statement (requires Acrobat Reader).

Students pay 1/2 of the prevailing Extended Programs Division tuition rate for portfolio credits. Extended Programs tuition will be $212.00 per credit hour beginning with the Fall 2003 semester; therefore, students will pay $106.00 per requested credit hour for PLA portfolio credits. Always verify the current rate with the School for Adult Learning office in Esch Hall 103.

Preliminary Steps

If you are interested in doing a portfolio to document learning you have done on a job, in volunteer work, or in other areas, there are a few preliminary steps:

1. NOTE: Self-Acquired Competency (SAC) Portfolios may not be submitted for any course for which an equivalency test (CLEP or DANTES) exists. See yellow handout, University of Indianapolis, College Credit by Examination.

2. Look through the University of Indianapolis Academic Catalog; look for courses that cover material you feel you already know. For example, a manager of a unit in a small or large company, could probably document learning for HRM381, Human Resources Management, or COMM200, Business and Professional Communications.

3. Look at your resume and in the side margin write notes about the specific jobs, tasks, and responsibilities you had for specific positions.

4. Please think about planning time. Because of the time required for submission and evaluation, students may NOT submit a portfolio during their last semester. Repeat: Portfolios may not be submitted during a student's final semester!

What does a Portfolio Look Like?

A Self-Acquired Competency Portfolio includes:

A Table of Contents
A statement of the courses for which you are documenting learning
An autobiographical resume
A transcript of your work at the University of Indianapolis
A Learning Page: a list of course objectives matched with statements of your self-acquired competencies
A reflective statement about your learning and how you learn. This should demonstrate that you understand the "why" and the "how" of what you have learned as well as the "what;" the "theory" as well as the "practice."
Samples of work (for example: computer programs, photographs, brochures, etc.)
Certificates from relevant training programs
Letters of support from supervisors
Publications
Other forms of documentation

In short, you need to demonstrate that you understand the concepts, theories, principles, and models of a particular subject as well as the practical applications--that's how you demonstrate LEARNING from an experience. Let's say the church treasurer mentioned at the beginning of this Web page wants to request credit for ACCT110 (Elementary Accounting I). It's not just enough for the church treasurer to have paid the bills every week for the past eight years (that's experience), but he/she must also demonstrate to the satisfaction of the faculty evaluator that he/she has the knowledge and understanding of established accounting principles and theories (that's learning) that would equate to the course content of ACCT110 as offered at the University of Indianapolis. Get the idea?

Don't shrug off PLA; don't take it lightly; don't make a half-hearted effort at a portfolio; don't expect to receive college credits for a watered-down, inferior submission. The PLA process is NOT an easy way around taking the equivalent college course--in many cases it might prove to be more demanding than the course. But, if used judiciously, this program has tremendous power to help you get your degree faster!

REMINDER: Students may be awarded a maximum of 30.0 credit hours for a Self-Acquired Competency Portfolio. For more PLA opportunities, visit: http://sal.uindy.edu/plainfo.html.

For more information on Prior Learning Assessment at the University of Indianapolis, contact the PLA Coordinator at 317-788-3442 or 800-232-8634, ext. 3442.

Home > Site Map > Prior Learning Assessment