Colleges grant academic credit for life experiences to boost enrollment numbers
In the realm of higher education, a significant shift is underway as institutions increasingly recognise and reward prior learning, particularly for those who have served in the military or gained valuable work experience.
A notable example is the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Pittsburgh, which supports the translation of military and work experience into academic credit through typical Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) mechanisms consistent with community college practices. However, specific details about CCAC's CPL implementation were not readily available in the search results.
CCAC, with a high Pell Grant eligibility (45% of students), demonstrates a commitment to access and support for diverse student populations, including veterans and working adults who often benefit from prior learning assessments. The college typically works with military transcript evaluation services, Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) processes, and counselor/advisor consultations to guide returning veterans or working students through the credit evaluation process.
Credit for prior learning is not a new concept in higher education, but the process can be complex, slow, and expensive, making it difficult for most students to complete. However, this is changing, with nearly half of institutions surveyed last year by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers having added more ways for students to receive these credits.
For instance, Carpenters who have completed apprenticeships can get up to 74 credits at certain institutions in subjects including math, management, and safety training. Similarly, the University of North Carolina System has launched a Military Equivalency System, allowing active-duty and former military service members to find out almost instantly if their training could be used for academic credit.
California's community colleges are expanding their CPL programs as part of a plan to increase the proportion of the population with educations beyond high school. Meanwhile, the University of Memphis partners with FedEx to offer academic credit for supervisory training to employees, helping them move up in the company.
Thomas Edison offers up to 30 credits for police academy graduates towards associate degrees, while the UNC System's goal is to retain military personnel as opposed to them moving to out-of-state universities.
Despite these efforts, only about 1 in 10 students actually completes the process of receiving credit for prior learning. This is a concern, given that nearly 38 million working-age Americans have spent some time in college but never finished. As a result, getting at least some of these individuals to come back to college has become essential to higher education institutions due to changing demographics and a falling number of 18-year-old high school graduates, such as in Pennsylvania, which is facing among the nation's most severe declines in this regard.
Stephen Wells, a former Air Force worker trained on F-16 fighter jets, is a testament to this. Initially given only three credits toward a required physical education class at Pittsburgh's Community College of Allegheny County, he went on to get his bachelor's and doctoral degrees and is now CCAC's provost, involved in a citywide project to help others transform their military and work experience into academic credit.
In conclusion, the recognition and reward of prior learning are becoming increasingly important in higher education. Institutions like CCAC are leading the way, offering opportunities for veterans, working adults, and others with valuable work experience to gain academic credit for their skills and knowledge. However, more needs to be done to simplify and streamline the process, making it more accessible and affordable for all.
- The shift in higher education toward recognizing and rewarding prior learning, such as military service and work experience, is significant, particularly for diverse student populations like veterans and working adults.
- Institutions are implementing various methods to convert prior learning into academic credit, with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) being an example that utilizes Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) mechanisms.
- Despite efforts by numerous institutions to increase prior learning recognition, the process remains complex, slow, and expensive, making it difficult for many students to complete.
- The increased focus on prior learning is crucial for workforce development and personal growth, as it allows individuals to build upon their existing skills and knowledge through education and self-development, leading to improved opportunities for personal growth and career advancement.
