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Prior Learning Prior Learning Assessment:Assessment:

Supporting Student Completion

Madeline Burillo, Ed.D.

Associate Vice Chancellor Workforce Instruction

June 2, 2015

Texas Community College Instructional Leaders Summer Conference

About HCCAbout HCC• Founded in 1971

• 6 colleges; 17 locations 12+

• 75K + / semester

• 58% F; 42% M;

• H-35%; AA-33%;W-15%; A-13%; O-4%

• Ranked #3 Assoc. degrees

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• Over 62 Workforce Programs

• Over 25 MSAA CEU

• 13+ DOL Approved Apprenticeship

• 1st in Gulf Coast region to be approved part of U.S. DOL Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium (RACC)

Prior Learning Assessment is a process to allow learners to demonstrate their

knowledge and skill in a particular field or fields and have that learning

evaluated for college credit.

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What is PLA?

Adults knowledge and skills to be evaluated for college credit.

On-the-job learning

Corporate training

Military service

Industry recognized credentials / licenses

Independent study

Volunteer service

What is PLA?

HCC and PLAHCC and PLA

Spring 2011: Task Force

Objective:◦ Revised procedures

and develop a simple, “easy to follow, easy to understand and easy to access”

Kresge Grant -$800K◦ CAEL Partnership◦ Director PLA

Procedure Manual Web Site Training Marketing

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HCC Six Methods for PLAHCC Six Methods for PLAMilitary Training Testing/Credit by Exam CEU/WECM to Credit Industry Credentials Work Experience-Portfolio

EvaluationArticulated Agreements

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HCC PLA Six Methods of HCC PLA Six Methods of PLAPLA

Credit for Military Training ◦ ACE◦ CCH

Credit Exam◦ Standard Exams,

Internal or FinalCEU to SCH

◦ Mirror courses◦ Internal

Articulations◦ *Apprenticeship

Credit by Industry credentials◦ *Demonstrated

Competency Based

Credit by Work Experience ◦ Portfolio

evaluation – CAEL Learningcounts.org

Credit by Articulation Agreement-No Fee

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What is a Portfolio?What is a Portfolio?

A formal written, visual, or spoken communication describing, illustrating, and documenting college-

level learning– and requesting college credit.

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• Workers in transition can use knowledge portfolios to document professional experiences

• Veterans and active duty personnel can use to document other areas, not measured by ACE

• Provides objective evaluation

Portfolio: Resource for those in-transition

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What is LearningCounts?What is LearningCounts?

• CAEL One Stop Online Plan Portal

• Access to College Credit Predictor and a College Credit Specialist

• Portfolio Development Courses

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CAEL College Credit CAEL College Credit PredictorPredictor

PLA Trends - HCCPLA Trends - HCC

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ChallengesChallenges

Objective and Standard Method for Portfolio Evaluation

Large Institution◦ Resistance to

change◦ Training

Sustainability

TrainingTrainingTraining

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Future Plans – In ProgressFuture Plans – In ProgressEmbedding PLA process as part of new

advisors and instructional leaders required training through HCC Center for Teaching & Learning◦ Online training module

Competency Based Training-FL model◦ Construction Trades pilot

Electrical HVAC Welding

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Thank youThank youwww.hccs.edu/plawww.hccs.edu/pla

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ReferencesReferencesFueling the Race to Postsecondary

Success, March 2010HCC 2015 Fast Facts report

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