Many students do not realize that they can turn their life experiences into academic credit. What you already know from experience may be the equivalent of what is taught in a college classroom. Your significant professional, artistic and/or service accomplishments may help you earn your college degree. Read on to find out how.
Q. What is a portfolio?
A. A portfolio is a written description of the experience and the learning that have taken place in one’s life. It also includes documentation (proof) that this learning took place in the form of letters from supervisors, certificates, work samples, etc. The portfolio demonstrates your equivalency to standard Kentucky State University courses.
Q. What kind of learning can be used?
A. Learning from volunteer jobs, seminars, conferences, community service, homemaking, from work, independent research, etc. may be used. It must reflect college level learning.
Q. How do I get credit for this learning?
A. Portfolios are assessed by individual Kentucky State University faculty members to determine credit awards and the appropriate grade.
Q. When is the course offered?
A. The courses if offered Fall and Spring semesters.
Q. How do I get credit for what I know?
A. The process starts with a 3-credit hour course called Credit-for-Life (299-01). The Credit-for-Life Instructor (Roberta Mason) will work with you to develop a prior learning portfolio. You will be given a CLE Handbook with all pertinent information for completion of your portfolio.
Q. How do these credits fit into my program?
A. Credits for prior learning can be used exactly the same as courses taken in the traditional manner; credit awarded reflects the actual Kentucky State University course you have demonstrated, whether it is an internship, an elective, or an actual program requirement. Your portfolio instructor will help you investigate the possibilities, as part of the CLE 299 class, and your academic advisor can offer more specific guidance retarding your major.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. The portfolio can be assessed only after the student has been billed for and has paid a non-refundable fee equal to one-third the prevailing tuition rate per semester credit hour for the sum of all credits requested through the portfolio.
Q. How many credits can I earn?
A. It depends on how closely your learning from experience matches the course requirements for the course you are challenging, and how well you can demonstrate this equivalence to faculty evaluators. Students have been successfully evaluated for 1 to 40+ credit hours based on their prior learning.
Q. Can I get credit for any KSU course through a portfolio?
A. There are exceptions. Contact the portfolio instructor (502) 597-5614, ASB 5th floor, Room 505 to fine out what areas are not eligible for prior learning credit, or see the Department Dean/Chair responsible for that particular course.
Q. How do I know if I'm eligible?
A. To be eligible for the program, you must enroll in CLE 299 (Portfolio Development) with the approval from the CLE instructor. You must be an associate or baccalaureate degree-seeking student and have completed Eng. 101 (English Composition 1), or its equivalent at another institution. CLE 299 is offered only during the Fall and Spring Semesters. A student is eligible to take CLE 299 and complete the assessment process only once in each five year period.
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