PLA Advisory Board Mgt February 27 2014 PLA

PLA Advisory Board Mgt. February 27, 2014 PLA Policy Recommendation Report Nan Travers Ross Garmil

Update on Meeting at SUNY • Present recommendation as an update to the 1976 policy • Make recommendation to Jay Quintance, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Assistant Provost for Community College Policy and Planning

Policy Statements from 1976 Adaptations from CAEL Standards SUNY TAACCCT PLA Advisory Board

Order of 1976 Policy • • Summary • Definitions – None (Suggest Moving after Summary) Administrative Policies • Philosophy Statements • Campus Coordination and • Information Services (slide 16) • Educational Policies • Fiscal and Reporting Procedures (slides 19 -21, • 23) • Published Examinations (slides 5 -7) • Transfer Policies (slide 9) • Residence Requirement (slide 11) • Content Restrictions (slide 12) • Evaluation Mechanisms (slide 13) • Institutional Affiliations (slide 15) • • • Student Information Services (slide 24) • Campus Catalogue (slide 25) • • Other Related Information - None Procedures - None Forms - None ‘Authority Memorandum to Presidents from the office of the vice chancellor for academic programs, 7611, dated July 23, 1976. History (slide 27) Appendices - None

Summary Old • The policy regulates the award of credit by examination and other types of evaluation within the State University of New York (University). Recommended • The policy regulates the award of credit through the assessment of prior learning within the State University of New York (University).

Definition #1 Alternative • Prior Learning Assessment for the award of academic credit is the evaluation of verifiable college-level learning achieved outside of a traditional academic environment. (17/27 votes = 63%) • Prior Learning Assessment is the award of academic credit based on the evaluation of verifiable college-level learning achieved outside of a traditional academic environment. • Vote = A • Vote = B

Philosophy Statement Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a valid format through which students can document college-level learning gained outside a traditional college course. Prior learning can be identified and assessed in a variety of ways to determine if college credit should be awarded towards academic credentials. Many people have developed college-level learning outside of the traditional classroom and this knowledge is as valuable as knowledge gained through more formal learning settings. Individuals acquire verifiable college-level learning through work, completing professional certifications and licenses, serving in the military, engaging in community service and volunteer activities, and studying independently such as through open educational resources and the internet.

Policies Based on CAEL Standards 1. Through prior learning assessment, credit is granted for verifiable college-level learning, but not for the experience itself.

Published Examinations For purposes of providing minimum university-wide guarantees to all University students, students may apply at least 30 credit hours earned through published subject examinations, including those offered as transfer credit, toward fulfillment of degree requirements at any University campus where they are enrolled. A given campus may allow additional credit hours through these examinations up to the limit specified by the residence provision described later in this document. Campuses will not be expected to count credit hours toward fulfillment of degree requirements in areas that would normally not receive credit during an evaluation of transfer credits.

Published Examinations (cont) Documentation The preceding guarantee of credit for published examinations applies to the following test series, provided the specified minimum performance levels are met: a) College-Level Examination Program (Subject Examinations) - Mean score obtained by persons from the standardization group who had earned a grade of C in a formal course; b) College Proficiency Examinations - Performance at a grade level of C; and c) Advanced Placement Program - A score of 3 or higher within the scale of 5 points used for this program.

Published Examinations (cont) Individual campuses may set lower cutoff scores for which local credit may be awarded through published examinations; however, other University campuses are not required to award transfer credit for scores lower than those listed in the preceding specifications when published examinations are reported. A campus may award credit for the general examinations of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), but no transfer guarantees will be made to students for these examinations.

Types of PLA Credits that can be Accepted • Published Exams • CLEP • DANTES • AP • Pre-Evaluated • Military Credit • ACE • NCCRS • Excelsior/Regents College • Individual College’s Professional Learning Evaluations (PLE) • Others • International Baccalaureate • Institutional Challenge Exams • Individual Portfolio Assessment (i. PLA)

Transfer Policies All University campuses must apply the same transfer policies to credit earned by evaluation that are used to evaluate transferability of credit earned through standard instructional methods, subject to the standards for published examinations given previously. a) No campus shall be required to give credit in subject matter that could not normally be transferred from other institutions. b) Credit shall not be excluded from transfer because it was obtained through the evaluation method rather than formal course enrollment.

Adapted CAEL Standards Application of Credits 5. All University campuses must apply the same transfer policies to PLA credits that are used to evaluate transferability of credit earned through standard instructional methods. These credits should be appropriate to the context in which they are awarded and accepted. 6. Transcript entries for awarded credit should clearly describe what learning is being recognized and be carefully monitored to avoid giving credit for redundant learning.

Residence Requirement How credits are accepted Credit hours earned through a demonstration of proficiency, either through published examinations or through examinations constructed and graded by a campus, may not be counted toward satisfaction of any existing residence requirements. Within this residence restriction, individual campuses may allow as many credits earned through the evaluation mechanism to be applied toward degree requirements as are deemed appropriate by that campus.

Content Restrictions Where credit through evaluation is awarded originally in content areas not offered by the campus, the evaluation test or mechanism must be reviewed and approved by an appropriate departmental committee or, in the absence of an appropriate department, by the appropriate campus committee, for example, an educational policies committee. Which disciplines accept credit? Course equivalencies? Whose authority awards PLA Credits?

Evaluation Mechanisms Standards for assessment of credit For credit earned through evaluation, exclusive of published examinations, the methods of evaluation shall be determined by the faculty assigned responsibility for awarding credit, or by outside consultants whose competencies have been reviewed by procedures parallel to those employed by the campus for adjunct faculty.

Adapted CAEL Standards Assessment Procedures 2. Assessments should be based on the same criteria used to evaluate learning achieved within the traditional academic setting. These criteria need to be clear, explicit and at the level of acceptable learning that are both agreed upon and made public to students, faculty and staff. 3. The assessment process should be treated as an integral part of learning, not separate from it, and should be based on an understanding of learning processes. 4. The evaluation of prior learning must be conducted by the faculty or equivalent subject matter experts, whose competencies have been reviewed by procedures parallel to those employed by the campus for adjunct faculty. Each campus must indicate under whose authority awards PLA credits and make explicit the procedures for this award.

Institutional Affiliations (Who can Participate) Although the evaluation of a student's achievement may occur at any time, the student must have a record of progress toward an educational objective at the institution awarding credit prior to placement of credit on a transcript.

Campus Coordination and Information Services A person or office on each campus shall be designated to coordinate credit-by-evaluation activities. This individual or office shall: a) ensure that students, faculty, and staff are informed fully of the university-wide campus practices concerning this option; b) expedite scheduling of evaluation activities; c) provide staff functions for campus groups concerned with credit by evaluation policies and procedures; d) serve as an information channel between the campus and other units and agencies; and e) ensure that accurate records are maintained on use of the option.

Adapted CAEL Standards Professional Development 9. All personnel involved in the assessment of prior learning must be adequately training in assessment procedures and pursue continuing professional development for the functions they perform.

Adapted CAEL Standards Program Evaluation 10. Campuses need to monitor, review, evaluate, and revise PLA programs regularly in accordance to campus policies for all standard academic program reviews.

Fiscal and Reporting Procedures Reporting and budgetary procedures are intended to encourage development of credit by evaluation at the campuses. They also provide a standard format for data collection and ensure equal treatment of students within the system. a) Credit by evaluation procedures are appropriate when students are not registered formally for the specific course in question. b) Programs for credit by evaluation will be funded on a selfsupporting basis under which the direct costs (including fringe benefits) of the program will be offset by revenue from fees for testing. The program will be funded under the Income Fund Reimbursable Program Guidelines.

Fiscal and Reporting Procedures (cont) c) Separate fees for credit by evaluation activities will be developed by each campus and forwarded to the office of the vice chancellor finance and business for approval. Such fees will be determined by the campus based on direct costs (including fringe benefits) necessary to provide credit by evaluation services. These direct costs would include supervision of the evaluation program, test preparation or purchase, administration of the tests, including correction, evaluation, and recording, and notification of participants.

Fiscal and Reporting Procedures (cont) d) Testing fees may vary based on type of evaluation and its related costs, but may not vary between participants taking the same test during any semester. Fee levels should be re-examined each semester. e) Based on the financial circumstances of the participant, waiver of testing fees may be authorized by the campus president. Overall fee levels should be established in such a way as to accommodate any loss in revenue as a result of waivers, operating within the principle that overall the evaluation program must be self-supporting.

Adapted CAEL Standards Fees 8. Fees charged for assessment should be based on the services performed in the process and not determined by the amount of credit awarded and be set according to policies on campus fees.

Fiscal and Reporting Procedures (cont) f) No credit on enrollment reports or workload analyses for credit-by-evaluation activities will be received by any campus or administrative subdivision. The Course and Section Analysis (CASA) manual will contain detailed reporting instructions. g) The results of published examinations will be treated in the same administrative manner as transfer credit, for example, no additional fees, other than those imposed by the examination publisher, will be charged to the student and no campus Full Time Equivalent (FTE) credit will be reported. h) These policies shall not preclude academic departments and faculty from providing additional examination or evaluation services to students already enrolled in courses in which such services appear appropriate. This latter process is regarded as a course challenge, as opposed to credit by evaluation, and will continue to be reported by the campus as formal course enrollment.

Student Information Services System Administration will request information from campuses concerning credit-by-evaluation activities at regular intervals and will distribute a summary within the University.

Campus Catalogue Communication Each campus catalogue, as well as admissions publications from system administration, will provide students with information concerning the fee structure employed and financial aid practices of the University for the credit-by-examination option. Information concerning examinations (1) not accepted for degree credit, (2) not appropriate for specialized requirements, or (3) not appropriate as prerequisites for advanced courses within a given program must be provided to all prospective and enrolled students.

Adapted CAEL Standards Communication 7. Policies, procedures, and criteria applied to assessment, including provision for appeal, should be fully disclosed and prominently available to all parties involved in the assessment process, including academic catalogs and campus websites.

History In December, 1973, a credit by evaluation committee was appointed to review the practices of awarding credit by examination and to recommend policy alternatives which could be adopted University-wide. The committee's March 28, 1974, report was reviewed favorably by the council and conference of presidents in, 1974, and by the University faculty senate, the faculty council of the community colleges, and the student assembly in, 1975.